The Sociology of Cybercrime: Causes and Prevention | [Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences • 2025]

Author(s):

1. Rahaf Salem Darabseh: Faculty of Literature and Language, Strathclyde University,,UK

2. Ahed J Alkhatib: Cypress International Institute University,Texas,USA

Abstract:

Cybercrime is best defined as any crime that is committed over the internet. Cybercrime has been an issue ever since the birth of the internet, dating back to as early as the 1980s. Technology currently plays a big part in people's lives, especially in this era of technology evolution, which has led to the ability of criminals to abuse technology for personal gain. The capability for someone to get questions or concerns answered immediately can make people feeling entirely comfortable on the internet when quite the opposite should be the case. Because of this, it is easier for cybercriminals to trick people into giving them credit card information, or other personal information that can be used for identity theft. One in ten people that are online are victims of cybercrime; the seriousness of cybercrime varies; some are minor crimes. Ninety percent of the 1.5 million cyberattacks that happened around the world in the 2013-2014 period were indicated to be coming from China. Legitimate websites can be hacked to enable the attacker to install malware onto the computer of a visitor of these websites. Malware can also be found on websites that contain illegal downloads such as music, movies, and software. Unfortunately, hackers have found a way to lock computers and files and then demand to be paid a fee to unlock these. There is an opportunity for people with a criminal psychology background to investigate these cases and potentially identify the cybercriminals. There are various ways a person can protect their computer from new malware by using more advanced firewalls or making some simple adjustments in their daily computer usage. However, this can be difficult when a person's computer operating system becomes outdated and is no longer supported by the vendor.

Page(s): 4014-4020

DOI: 10.57239/PJLSS-2025-23.1.00318

Published: Journal: Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences, Volume: 23, Issue: 1, Year: 2025

Keywords:

Criminal Psychology in Cybercrime Cybercrime Cybersecurity Sociology

References:

[1] McDaniel B. An .2018 .. Look into Cybercrime, : .

[2] Goni O,Ali MH,Showrov MM,Shameem MA .2022 .The basic concept of cyber crime. Journal of Technology Innovations and Energy, 1(2) : 16-24.

[3] Goni O. .2022 .Cyber crime and its classification. Int. J. of Electronics Engineering and Applications, : .

[4] Koto I. . .Cyber crime according to the ITE law. 2021 Jul, 28(2) : 103-10.

[5] Yadav H,Gautam S,Rana A,Bhardwaj J,Tyagi N. . .Various types of cybercrime and its affected area. InEmerging Technologies in Data Mining and Information Security: Proceedings of IEMIS 2020, 3 : 305-315.

[6] Deora RS,Chudasama D . .Brief study of cybercrime on an internet. Journal of communication engineering & Systems, 11(1) : 1-6.

[7] Chinedu PU,Nwankwo W,Masajuwa FU,Imoisi S. Cybercrime,Detection S. Cybercrime . .Prevention Efforts in the Last Decade: An Overview of the Possibilities of Machine Learning Models. 2021 Jul, 1(7) : .

[8] Pawar SC,Mente RS,Chendage BD,Technology Information . .Cyber crime, cyber space and effects of cyber crime. 2021 Jan;7, (1) : 210-4.

[9] Matveev V,Eduardivna NO,Stefanova N,Khrypko S,Ishchuk A,Ishchuk O,Bondar T.,Semantic-Terminological Specifics T. .2021 .Cybercrime in the Economic Space: Psychological Motivation. International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security, 21(11) : 135-42.

[10] Sviatun OV,Goncharuk OV,Roman C,Kuzmenko O,Kozych IV . .Combating cybercrime: economic and legal aspects. WSEAS Transactions on Business and Economics, 18 : 751-62.

[11] Ibrahim S,Nnamani D,Okosun O .2021 .Types of Cybercrime and Approaches to Detection. IOSR Journal of Computer Engineering, 23(5) : 24-6.

[12] Arpaci I,Aslan O .2023 .Development of a scale to measure cybercrime-awareness on social media. Journal of Computer Information Systems, : .

[13] Sarfi M,Darvishii M,Zohouri M. Why M . .People May View Online Crimes as Less Criminal: Exploring the Perception of Cybercrime. International e-journal of criminal sciences. 2023 Dec, 20(18) : .

[14] Babanina V,Tkachenko I,Matiushenko O,Krutevych M. . .Cybercrime: History of formation, current state and ways of counteraction. 2021 Apr, 10(38) : 113-22.

[15] Maluleke W. Exploring . .Cybercrime: An Emerging Phenomenon and Associated Challenges in Africa. International Journal of Social Science Research and Review. 2023 Jun, 8(6) : 223-43.

[16] MA Abdulai .2022 .The Paradox of Cybercrime Risk and Internet Use in Canada: A Socio-Criminological Perspective. , : .

[17] Mikkola M,Oksanen A,Kaakinen M,Miller BL,Savolainen I,Sirola A,Zych I,Paek HJ .2024 .Situational and individual risk factors for cybercrime victimization in a cross-national context. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 68(5) : 449-67.

[18] Ho HTN,Luong HT . .Research trends in cybercrime victimization during 2010-2020: a bibliometric analysis. SN Social Sciences. 2022, : .

[19] Borwell J,Jansen J,Stol W. Comparing .2021 .the victimization impact of cybercrime and traditional crime: Literature review and future research directions. Journal of Digital Social Research, : .

[20] Momeni F. .2024 .The impact of social, cultural, and individual factors on cybercrime. Educational Administration: Theory and Practice, : .

[21] Smith S. Assessing .2025 .the Weight of Social Capital Theory in Digital Victimization Patterns Via the Oxford Internet Surveys. InThe Routledge International Handbook of Online Deviance, : 132-148.

[22] Smith PhD T. Integrated .2024 .7(2):4. International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime, : .

[23] Borwell J,Jansen J,Stol W. . .The psychological and financial impact of cybercrime victimization: A novel application of the shattered assumptions theory. Social Science Computer Review, 40(4) : 933-54.

[24] Nicola Di .2022 .A. Towards digital organized crime and digital sociology of organized crime. , : .

[25] Lusthaus J. Reconsidering .2024 .Crime and Technology: What Is This Thing We Call Cybercrime?. Annual Review of Law and Social Science, : .

[26] Hall T,Sanders B,Bah M,King O .2021 .Economic geographies of the illegal: the multiscalar production of cybercrime. Trends in Organized Crime, : .

[27] Chen S,Hao M,Ding F,Jiang D,Dong J,Zhang S,Guo Q,Gao C . .Exploring the global geography of cybercrime and its driving forces. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. 2023 Feb, 23(1) : 1-0.

[28] Neufeld D. .2023 .Computer crime motives: Do we have it right?. Sociology Compass, : .

[29] HJ Pallangyo .2022 .Cyber Security Challenges, its Emerging Trends on Latest Information and Communication Technology and Cyber Crime in Mobile Money Transaction Services. Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology, : .

[30] YK Gupta .2024 .Exploring crime from a sociological perspective. International Journal of Dynamic Educational Research Society, 5(2) : 47-56.

[31] Završník A. Cybercrime - Definitional Challenges Criminological,Particularities Criminological .2009 .. , : .

[32] Kastner P . .International legal dimensions of cybercrime. InResearch Handbook on International Law and Cyberspace 2021 Dec, 14 : 253-270.

[33] Fahey E. Developing .2022 .EU cybercrime and cybersecurity: On legal challenges of EU institutionalisation of cyber law-making 1. The Routledge Handbook of European Integrations, : .

[34] Roškot M,Wanasika I,Z. I . .Cybercrime in Europe: surprising results of an expensive lapse. 2021 Mar, 18(2) : 91-8.

[35] Phillips K,Davidson JC,Farr RR,Burkhardt C,Caneppele S,Aiken MP . .Conceptualizing cybercrime: Definitions, typologies and taxonomies. Forensic sciences. 2022 Apr, 16(2) : 379-98.

[36] Buil-Gil D,Miró-Llinares F,Moneva A,Kemp S,Díaz-Castaño N S . .Cybercrime and shifts in opportunities during COVID-19: a preliminary analysis in the UK. 2021 Feb, 23(sup1) : S47-59.

[37] Wall DS .2024 .Cybercrime: The transformation of crime in the information age. , : .

[38] Buçaj E,Idrizaj K. .2025 .The need for cybercrime regulation on a global scale by the international law and cyber convention. Multidisciplinary Reviews, : .

[39] Bjelajac Z,Filipovic AM .2023 .pravni-fakultet.edu. Law Theory & Prac, : .

[40] Ismail AS,Haniff MA,Md MN .2023 .Inside the Mind of Cybercriminals: Investigating the Influence of Socioeconomic Factors on the Ethical Decision-Making of Cybercriminals. InProceedings of 1st Glocal Symposium on Information and Social Sciences (GSISS, : 34.

[41] Yan F. .2023 .Research on the Status Quo and Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency from the Perspective of Internet. International Journal of Frontiers in Sociology, : .

[42] EM Kala .2024 .Influence of Online Platforms on Criminal Behavior. International Journal of Research Studies in Computer Science and Engineering (IJRSCSE), 10(1) : 25-37.

[43] Željko B,Aleksandar FM .2023 .MEDIA AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR-BETWEEN SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. , : .

[44] Ezeji CL . .Emerging technologies and cyber-crime: strategies for mitigating cyber-crime and misinformation on social media and cyber systems. 2024 Dec, 1(4) : 271-84.

[45] Okeke CV,Obi-Nwosu H,Onuoha OC . .Parental Styles and Moral Disengagement as Predictors of Attitude towards Cybercrime among Undergraduates. ZIK JOURNAL OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH. 2024 Dec, 1(1) : .

[46] Yuzikova N. .2022 .CRIMINOLOGY RESEARCH OF THE INFLUENCE OF INTERNET CONTENT ON INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION AND BEHAVIOR OF MINORS. Baltic Journal of Legal and Social Sciences, : .

[47] Asli MR .2023 .Digital trends of criminology and criminal justice of the 21st century. Journal of Digital Technologies and Law, : .

[48] Horgan S,Collier B,Jones R . .Re-territorialising the policing of cybercrime in the postCOVID-19 era: towards a new vision of local democratic cyber policing. 2021 Aug, 3(3) : 222-39.

[49] Maulana YI,Fajar I. . .Analysis of cyber diplomacy and its challenges for the digital era community. 2023 Mar, 25(2) : 169-77.

[50] Sharma V,Manocha T,Garg S,Sharma S,Garg A,Sharma R . .. Growth of Cyber-crimes in Society 4.0. In2023 3rd International Conference on Innovative Practices in Technology and Management (ICIPTM) 2023 Feb, 22 : 1-6.

[51] Basheer R,Alkhatib B .2021 .Threats from the dark: a review over dark web investigation research for cyber threat intelligence. Journal of Computer Networks and Communications, : .

[52] AllahRakha N. .2024 .Transformation of Crimes (Cybercrimes) in Digital Age. International Journal of Law and Policy, : .

[53] Lallie HS,Shepherd LA,Nurse JR,Erola A,Epiphaniou G,Maple C,Bellekens X . .Cyber security in the age of COVID-19: A timeline and analysis of cyber-crime and cyber-attacks during the pandemic. Computers & security. 2021 Jun, 1 : 102248.

[54] Sarkar G,Shukla SK .2023 .Behavioral analysis of cybercrime: Paving the way for effective policing strategies. Journal of Economic Criminology, : .

[55] Nzeakor OF,Ede AA,Nwoke CN . .UNDERSTANDING INDIVIDUAL VICTIMS'CONTRIBUTION IN THE INCIDENCE OF CYBERCRIME VICTIMIZATION ATTACKS IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA. FUOYE JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY AND SECURITY STUDIES. 2024 Jun, 17(1) : .

[56] Rahaman KH,Hasam MA .2021 .A Social Review on Nature & Reason of Cyber-Crime and the Laws Regarding Prevention in Bangladesh. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 5(07) : 171-8.

[57] Olofinbiyi SA .2021 .Exploring youth awareness of cybercrime and factors engendering its proliferation in Nigeria. African Renaissance, : .

[58] Ojolo TL,Singh SB .2023 .The transnational dimension of organised crime: an investigation into the operational structure of cybercrime in Nigeria. EUREKA: Social and Humanities, : .

[59] Cybercrime Graham A.,Solutions Modern .2023 .: Traditional Problems. , : .

[60] Smith T. A .2021 .Conceptual Review and Exploratory Evaluation of the Motivations for Cybercrime. , : .

[61] Aftab RM,Ijaz M,Rehman F,Ashfaq A,Sharif H,Riaz N,Hussain S,Arslan M,Maqsood H. A Systematic M . .Review on the Motivations of Cyber-Criminals and Their Attacking Policies. In2022 3rd International Conference on Innovations in Computer Science & Software Engineering (ICONICS) 2022 Dec, 14 : 1-6.

[62] Guidetti O,Mather S.,Malicious S. .2024 .Minds: Psychological Profiling of Ransomware Attackers and Policing Challenges. Ransomware Evolution, : .

[63] Peled-Laskov R .2024 .When personal rational decision-making fails: examining the psychological limits of criminal punishment as a successful deterrent for white-collar offenders. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, : .

[64] Singh S. The Cybercrime .2024 .Spectrum: Understanding Digital Threats. , : .

[65] P. Hendry B,Michelle Hellsten L,J. McIntyre L,R. R. Smith B L .2023 .Recommendations for cyberbullying prevention and intervention: A Western Canadian perspective from key stakeholders. , : .

[66] Shillair R,Esteve-González P,Dutton WH,Creese S,Nagyfejeo E . .Cybersecurity education, awareness raising, and training initiatives: National level evidence-based results, challenges, and promise. Computers & Security. 2022 Aug, 1 : 102756.

[67] AlDaajeh S,Saleous H,Alrabaee S,Barka E,Breitinger F,Choo KK . .The role of national cybersecurity strategies on the improvement of cybersecurity education. Computers & Security. 2022 Aug, 1 : 102754.

[68] Chaudhary S,Gkioulos V,Katsikas S. .2022 .Developing metrics to assess the effectiveness of cybersecurity awareness program. Journal of Cybersecurity, : .

[69] WJ Triplett . .Addressing cybersecurity challenges in education. 2023 Jan, 1(1) : 47-67.

[70] Corallo A,Lazoi M,Lezzi M,Luperto A .2022 .Cybersecurity awareness in the context of the Industrial Internet of Things: A systematic literature review. Computers in Industry, : .

[71] Dash B,Ansari MF .2022 .An effective cybersecurity awareness training model: first defense of an organizational security strategy. , : .

[72] Zwilling M,Klien G,Lesjak D,Wiechetek Ł,Cetin F,Basim HN . .Cyber security awareness, knowledge and behavior: A comparative study. Journal of Computer Information Systems. 2022 Jan, 2(1) : 82-97.

[73] Sabillon R. .2022 .The cybersecurity awareness training model (CATRAM). InResearch Anthology on Advancements in Cybersecurity Education, : 501-520.

[74] Hu S,Hsu C .2022 .Security education, training, and awareness programs: Literature review. Journal of Computer Information Systems, : .

[75] TU Rehman .2021 .Theoretical context of cybercrime. InHandbook of Research on Applied Social Psychology in Multiculturalism, : 174-191.

[76] Lazarus S,Button M,Kapend R . .Exploring the value of feminist theory in understanding digital crimes: Gender and cybercrime types. The Howard Journal of Crime and Justice, 61(3) : 381-98.

[77] Gordon F,McGovern A,Thompson C,Wood MA,Democracy Social . .1):i-viii. informit. 2022 Mar, 1(11) : .

[78] Balabantaray SR,Mishra M . .Pani U. A SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY OF CYBERCRIMES AGAINST WOMEN IN INDIA: DECIPHERING THE CAUSES AND EVALUATING THE IMPACT ON THE VICTIMS. International Journal of Asia-Pacific Studies. 2023 Jan, 1(1) : .

[79] Lavorgna A,Holt T. Researching,Cybercrimes T. Researching .2021 .. , : .

[80] Nicola Di . .A. Towards digital organized crime and digital sociology of organized crime. 2022, : .

Citations

Downloads

Views