Hacktivism: An Analysis of the Motive to Disseminate Confidential Information
Date
2012-11
Authors
Held, Warren V.
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Abstract
Research conducted within this thesis will focus on the following groups which have in recent times gained a substantial amount of fame and attention for being involved in data leaks and hacking: hacker collective Anonymous, affiliated group LulzSec, and the associated movement AntiSec. These groups formed during the first decade of the 21st century as small organizations and have grown to become media staples garnering headlines across the globe. Information possessed by these organizations is handled in a similar fashion; each group hacks into computer networks to retrieve data and disseminates it to the public via the Internet and/or traditional media. The motivations for these groups appear similar as they all engage in anti-government activities and seek to make the public more aware of what occurs behind the closed doors of the world’s most powerful institutions and establishments. This research seeks to determine these motivations.
Description
Keywords
Hacktivism, Anonymous, LulzSec, Antisec
Citation
Held, W. V. (2012). Hacktivism: An analysis of the motive to disseminate confidential information (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, Texas.