Cyberattack

Cyberattacks can also be associated with cyber warfare or cyberterrorism, in the form of hacktivism. Criminal, political, and personal motives make up the three main categories of cybercrime.

Criminally motivated attackers seek financial profit through money theft, data theft, or business disruption. Personally motivated attackers have been personally affected by their target and will take money, data, or a mere chance to disrupt a company's system, retribution being the primary motivating factor. Socio-political motivated attackers seek attention for their causes by publicizing their attacks. This practice has come to be known as hacktivism.

Other cyberattack motivations include espionage, business competition, and intellectual challenge.