HotSoS 2017 Best Poster: "Is the Guardian Capable? A Routine Activity Theory Approach to Cyber Intrusion on Honeypot Systems"

Abstract:

Research on the criminological side of system trespassing (i.e. unlawfully gaining access to a computer system) is relatively rare and has yet to examine the effect of the presence of other users on the system during the trespassing event (i.e. the time of communication between the trespasser's system and the infiltrated system). This poster begins to analyze this relationship drawing on the concept of capable guardianship under Routine Activity Theory. Data were collected from a randomized control trial of target computers deployed on the Internet network of a large U.S. university. This poster examined whether the number (one or multiple) and type (administrative or non-administrative) of computer users present on a system reduced recidivism by trespassers on targeted systems. Results indicate that neither the number, nor type of condition produced a deterrent effect through the role of increased capable guardianship on the target system.

Author Bios:

Michael Becker is originally from Madison, WI, and graduated in 2013 from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities with a B.A. in Psychology and Spanish Studies, and a minor in Sociology - Law, Criminology, and Deviance. Over his time as an undergraduate, Michael worked as a community development officer with Casa de Esperanza in Saint Paul, MN and upon graduation worked as an intern with the Center for Homicide Research while employed as a legal intake specialist and document analyst in Minneapolis, MN. Previously, Michael has worked as a graduate teaching assistant under Dr. Sally Simpson and Jacqueline Lee for CCJS 105 in Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 semesters respectively. Michael is currently working as a project manager and graduate research assistant for Dr. David Maimon.

Michel Cukier is the director for the Advanced Cybersecurity Experience for Students (ACES) and the associate director for education for the Maryland Cybersecurity Center. He also an associate professor of reliability engineering with a joint appointment in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

David Maimon is an Associate Professor in the department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Maryland. He received his Ph.D. in Sociology from the Ohio State University in 2009. David's research interests include theories of human behaviors,computer crimes and communities and crime. His current research focuses on computer hacking and system trespassing, computer networks vulnerabilities to cyber attacks (see www.cybernudge.com), smartphone users vulnerabilities to cybercrime (see www.pocket-security.org), online fraud, and copyright infringment.