Kenyatta University Kenya Dangers of Hacking Discussion

The study reported here is part of ongoing, exploratory

work to determine how different methodologies can be used

to analyse the discussions held on forums relating to hacking.

The forums that are analysed could be described as surface

level sites where explicit criminal activity is rare, as opposed

to underground forums where this may be more common. In

doing so it seeks to reflect the experience of someone first

becoming interested in hacking; in terms of the initial online

environments they may encounter before potentially moving

onto underground cybercriminal sites. Better understanding

the social environment created by online hacking forums will

also allow for improved education and preventions strategies

that empower those new to hacking to make informed

decisions about the activity and their participation in it