Here is my ranking for the motives for cybercrime from least to most sensible:

  1. Monetary gain, This is the most consistent and powerful drive to commit criminal behavior and cybercrime is no exception.
  2. Various factors, many cybercriminals have complex motivation that can’t be reduced to one factor and knowing that it’s a combination of various factors makes a more nuanced explanation for cybercrime
  3. Political, some hacker groups are performing hacktivism with a specific political goal in mind or to get a certain message out there to a certain group
  4. Recognition, Some cybercriminals seek attention and acknowledgement for the crimes they commit.
  5. Revenge, can be a strong emotional drive and is a more personal motive than the other. Revenge porn is a common application of this motive.
  6. Boredom is less compelling but a lack of engagement can lead to harmful online behaviors
  7. Entertainment, is the lowest because while some criminals claim they do it for fun, it is often a cover up for their more serious and incriminating motives.