You probably have heard the cybersecurity adage: There are only two types of organizations: Those that have been hacked and know it, and those that have been hacked and don’t.
As October is Cyber Security Awareness month, let’s think about the motivations of cybercriminals with an eye to help you plan and prepare. In this world of hacks, breaches, and attempts, we all want to know: Who are these guys? Why do they do this? Why do they appear to be attacking multiple companies/organizations in the same sector?
One way to think of the different types of hackers is with the acronym MICE. Originally developed by intelligence agencies, MICE was introduced as a mnemonic to help agents and trainees recall the four key motivations behind espionage and insider threats.
The term gained prominence during the Cold War, notably referenced by KGB defector Stanislav Levchenko in 1988 and later discussed in a 1991 CIA document on agent recruitment.
The letters stand for:
Money, Ideology, Country, Ego
MONEY:
Hacking is a profitable business. Many keyboard crooks do this for a living. Ransomware is their favorite way to extort a company or individual. If they can’t get the money from you, they can put the info on the dark web and then move on to the next target. It’s not a personal attack; it’s just a money hunt.
IDEOLOGY:
These are hackers who are politically motivated but not affiliated directly with a nation’s state or government. These hackers seek to disrupt an agency, company, or NGO that this group doesn’t agree with. They may also want money, but disruption or thwarting another organization is the primary goal.
COUNTRY:
While this is typically seen as compromise, in the context of crisis communications readiness, it’s helpful to think of it as adjusting the “C” to ensure your organization can respond effectively. State actors and their tech specialists, whose role is to infiltrate government entities or infrastructure companies; represent one facet of modern warfare.
EGO:
Hackers who prey upon people and organizations, because it’s a game or a joke. They are motivated simply by the challenge, prestige, or notoriety of breaking into secure systems.
When you have to deal with real mice, you can call an exterminator, set up traps, or remove the food. For cyber-MICE, October is a good month to look at your prevention strategies for the different types of hackers.
Review, double check, and update the cybersecurity policy at your organization. Check your insurance coverage. Run fake attacks to see how employees are observing best practices. And don’t forget to check with your third-party vendors to see how they protect your data and seek out cybersecurity crisis experts for their recommendations to be prepared for communications challenges.
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