Cyber CrIme psyChology – proposal of an offender psyChologICal profIle

cyber crime is an ever increasing threat to the security of computer systems. Break-in methods are becoming more and more sophisticated and complicated. This necessitates the use of complex security systems and makes it difficult – sometimes almost impossible – to catch offenders. This makes it necessary to search for new methods of hunting offenders, going beyond information technology methods. The present article concerns the issue of applying psychological profiling to the field of cyber crimes. A review of the literature is presented together with the author’s theoretical model, which was created as a result of combining the Five Factor Theory (FFT) by costa and McRae with psychological profiling methodology. The proposed construct assumes a relationship between psychological characteristics and the offender’s modus operandi, which may serve in the creation of a psychological profile of a cyber crime perpetrator.