OP 18 September, 2024 - 02:59 PM
I posted a message the other day seeking participants for the final study of my dissertation research which is survey research focused on all hackers, regardless of hat colour or motive.
I have received some comments during this process (not here - so thank you), that were less than kind or highly critical of the work I am doing. So I thought I would take a moment to discuss why I think it is important to conduct research on hackers.
Firstly, I am a researcher and I believe in the importance of understanding phenomenon through empirical study. That probably makes me a huge nerd, but I am okay with that. I have a particular passion for understanding people - what they do, why they do it, and how various aspects of the world around us influence they way we think and act. Given the significant influence of technology and the likelihood of tech advancements having a massive ongoing impact, I decided to study cyberpsychology. This field is relatively new and that is exciting for a researcher, as not everything has already been done (nerdiness showing through again).
When I began working in this field I became fascinated with how hacking was originally a positive thing, where intelligent people were thinking outside the box to create and improve the world. Now, although hacking is not inherently good or bad, the term has such a negative connotation. As I further engaged the existing literature, I realized that very little research has actually involved connecting with hackers themselves. Studies tend to use college students as proxy samples. There are also all kinds of stereotypes in mainstream media showing hackers are introverted, isolated, young men living in their parents basements. Please know that if this accurately describes you, I mean no offence. But I don't think the hacker community can be represented by one stereotype.
I know that there are hackers out there who are stealing and causing harm. There are also hackers out there who want to enhance cyber security. There are hackers out there who will access a system for the challenge but won't disturb a thing. Each hacker has their own history, their own motives and hacker is likely only one of the labels that apply to them. I am not here to judge. I am here to understand a community that I believe is having a huge impact on the world.
Finally, I believe that the internet is a place that provides for learning, communication, and many other conveniences. But it is also a place where kids spend a lot of time, often unsupervised by parents who don't really have a clue what is happening in the online world. The internet does not have clear boundaries and the rules have not been well articulated to youth. The result is that many kids are at risk of victimization or criminalization online. I sincerely hope that my research can help raise awareness so that people can make informed decisions regarding any risk they take online. I would also like to see programs for youth to encourage their technical skills and abilities but doesn't land them in jail when they cross a line they didn't know existed.
So that is why I research hackers.
Sorry for the looooonnnnnngggg post. If you are still reading, thank you.
I have received some comments during this process (not here - so thank you), that were less than kind or highly critical of the work I am doing. So I thought I would take a moment to discuss why I think it is important to conduct research on hackers.
Firstly, I am a researcher and I believe in the importance of understanding phenomenon through empirical study. That probably makes me a huge nerd, but I am okay with that. I have a particular passion for understanding people - what they do, why they do it, and how various aspects of the world around us influence they way we think and act. Given the significant influence of technology and the likelihood of tech advancements having a massive ongoing impact, I decided to study cyberpsychology. This field is relatively new and that is exciting for a researcher, as not everything has already been done (nerdiness showing through again).
When I began working in this field I became fascinated with how hacking was originally a positive thing, where intelligent people were thinking outside the box to create and improve the world. Now, although hacking is not inherently good or bad, the term has such a negative connotation. As I further engaged the existing literature, I realized that very little research has actually involved connecting with hackers themselves. Studies tend to use college students as proxy samples. There are also all kinds of stereotypes in mainstream media showing hackers are introverted, isolated, young men living in their parents basements. Please know that if this accurately describes you, I mean no offence. But I don't think the hacker community can be represented by one stereotype.
I know that there are hackers out there who are stealing and causing harm. There are also hackers out there who want to enhance cyber security. There are hackers out there who will access a system for the challenge but won't disturb a thing. Each hacker has their own history, their own motives and hacker is likely only one of the labels that apply to them. I am not here to judge. I am here to understand a community that I believe is having a huge impact on the world.
Finally, I believe that the internet is a place that provides for learning, communication, and many other conveniences. But it is also a place where kids spend a lot of time, often unsupervised by parents who don't really have a clue what is happening in the online world. The internet does not have clear boundaries and the rules have not been well articulated to youth. The result is that many kids are at risk of victimization or criminalization online. I sincerely hope that my research can help raise awareness so that people can make informed decisions regarding any risk they take online. I would also like to see programs for youth to encourage their technical skills and abilities but doesn't land them in jail when they cross a line they didn't know existed.
So that is why I research hackers.
Sorry for the looooonnnnnngggg post. If you are still reading, thank you.