Computer Hacking and the Techniques of Neutralization: An Empirical Assessment

The primary goal of this paper is to explore why some individuals engage in illegal computer hacking. Certainly, most moderately experienced computer users could develop some anecdote that might explain why some people hack. For example, some suggest that people hack because it is an adrenaline rush. In other words, hackers get a thrill out of hacking and enjoy solving problems or understanding how a program operates and how it can be manipulated. Anyone who enjoys computing technology and problem solving might be sensitive to this explanation and it may very well be the case some of the time.