A Systematic Literature Review on Politically Motivated Hackers

Cyberattacks are on the rise, fueled by a variety of motives. Although research on economically driven cybercrime is expanding, our understanding of politically motivated hacking remains limited and underexplored. To identify and assess the extent of available literature, we conducted a systematic literature review that highlights critical gaps in current knowledge. The research was guided by three research questions: (1) Which theories have been used to investigate politically motivated cyber-dependent crimes? (2) Which methods and data have been used to investigate motivated cyber-dependent crimes? (3) Which politically motivated cyber-dependent crimes have been investigated in the literature? In total, 22 studies met the inclusion criteria. This study highlights the critical need for common definitions to enable a more coherent foundation for research. It also reveals a broad spectrum of motivations, from left-wing hackers promoting freedom of information and transparency to right-wing hackers defending national interests. Finally, it provides evidence supporting the need to distinguish ideologically from economically motivated hackers. By systematically mapping the limited research in this area, we provide a clear foundation for future studies and contribute to the definition of an emerging research area.