How and Why Do Teens Become Cyber Criminals?


The search to find the mastermind of the attacker group Lapsus$ led to a home outside Oxford, England. The suspected leader was a 16-year-old. He helped take down some of the world’s biggest companies, including Microsoft, from his mother’s house. The BBC reported the teen is alleged to have earned $14 million from his attacks. The search for other group members led researchers to the arrest of six other teens.


The Lapsus$ group is just the latest example of teen cyber criminals. In 2021, Canadian police arrested a teen for stealing about $36.5 million in cryptocurrency using a SIM swap attack. Another teen, Ellis Pinsky, began stealing crypto when he was 15 and passed the $100 million mark by the time he was 18.


Why and How Teenagers Become Attackers


Reducing cyber crime committed by teenagers starts with knowing their motivation and paths. Of course, each person has their own reasons for their actions. Many teens start hacking because the challenge and fun entice them. Other teens turn to cyber crime because of their beliefs regarding a specific issue. Money is also a common reason, as in the case of Lapsus$.


Many teens stumble into cyber crime by mistake as they cross the line between ethical and unethical activities. In episode 112 of Darknet Diaries, a teenager who identifies himself as Drew shares his journey. Drew ..

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