Cybercrimeology

Bridging realities: The Convergence of Ideology and Cybercrime

Episode Summary

We host Dr. Tom Holt from the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University, to talk about his current research and the problems of getting research into practice . Dr. Holt explaines the intricate dynamics of online ideological spaces and the rise of ideologically driven cyber attacks, emphasizing the critical need for interdisciplinary efforts between social sciences and computer science.

Episode Notes

Episode Notes:

• Dr. Tom Holt discussed the nascent stages of cybercrime research during his doctoral studies, highlighting its evolution into a more recognized and competitive field.
• He emphasized the growth of cybercrime studies and the challenges of carving a niche within an expanding academic and professional landscape.
• Dr. Holt pointed out the potential of interdisciplinary collaboration between social sciences and computer science as crucial for advancing cybercrime research.
• The importance of online subcultures and ideological spaces in cybercrime dynamics was discussed, noting their influence on criminal activities and group formations.
• He delved into the realm of ideologically motivated cyber attacks, underscoring the need for better legal and enforcement frameworks to address such threats.
• Dr. Holt provided examples of cyber attacks by extremist groups, showing a strategic shift towards cyber tactics for ideological, not financial, reasons.
• The conversation highlighted the critical role of comprehensive data in understanding the scope and nature of cyberterrorism and ideological cyber attacks.
• Reflecting on his career, Dr. Holt offered insights on the importance of continuous learning and interdisciplinary collaboration for researchers in the cybercrime field.

About our guests:

Dr. Tom Holt

https://cj.msu.edu/directory/holt-thomas.html

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-holt-3242a322/

Papers or resources mentioned in this episode:

Cassandra Cross & Thomas J. Holt (2023) More than Money: Examining the Potential Exposure of Romance Fraud Victims to Identity Crime, Global Crime, 24:2, 107-121, DOI: 10.1080/17440572.2023.2185607

Holt, T. J., Turner, N. D., Freilich, J. D., & Chermak, S. M. (2022). Examining the Characteristics That Differentiate Jihadi-Associated Cyberattacks Using Routine Activities Theory. Social Science Computer Review, 40(6), 1614-1630. https://doi.org/10.1177/08944393211023324

Thomas J. Holt, Jin Ree Lee, Joshua D. Freilich, Steven M. Chermak, Johannes M. Bauer, Ruth Shillair& Arun Ross (2022) An Exploratory Analysis of the Characteristics of Ideologically Motivated Cyberattacks, Terrorism and Political Violence, 34:7, 1305-1320, DOI: 10.1080/09546553.2020.1777987

Thomas J. Holt, Joshua D. Freilich & Steven M. Chermak (2022) Examining the Online Expression of Ideology among Far-Right Extremist Forum Users, Terrorism and Political Violence, 34:2, 364-384,DOI: 10.1080/09546553.2019.1701446

Other:

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