Malicious Spam Distribution: A Routine Activities Approach

ABSTRACT

The distribution of malicious spam occurs in substantial numbers around the globe and can function as a precursor to serious forms of cybercrime. Yet to date, no known study has employed criminological theory to gain insight into the macro-correlates of malicious spam victimization. To address this gap in the literature, the current study utilizes data gathered from multiple sources to assess whether variables derived from routine activity theory are associated with malicious spam victimization at the country-level. Findings indicate that multiple measures of target suitability increase the amount of malicious spam a country receives. Specifically, corruption, political freedom, gross domestic product, and being an Asian nation are associated with an increase in malicious spam victimization. Capable guardianship, however, does not decrease the amount of malicious spam a country receives, and in some instances, is associated with an increase. Theoretical and policy implications are discussed.

Notes

¹ A check of the variance inflation factor indicated no problem with multicollinearity.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Robert C. Perkins

Robert C. Perkins is a doctoral student in the department of Criminal Justice and Criminology and a graduate research assistant for the Evidence-Based Cybersecurity Research Group at Georgia State University. Robert received his bachelor’s degree in both Criminology and Psychology from the University of South Florida in 2017, and his master’s degree in Criminology from the University of South Florida as well in 2020. Robert’s research interest largely encompasses cybercrime and other forms of technologically-facilitated Deviant Behavior. He is particularly interested in the sociological aspects of cybersecurity and the macro-level causes and correlates of criminal activity over cyberspace.

C. Jordan Howell

C. Jordan Howell is a doctoral candidate at the University of South Florida and the research coordinator for the Evidence-Based Cybersecurity Research Group at Georgia State University. Jordan received his master’s in criminology in 2016, a graduate certificate in digital forensics in 2017, and anticipates graduating with his Ph.D. in criminology in August 2020. He has published several papers in theoretical criminology, and his main research interest is cybercrime. Currently, Jordan’s work focuses on cybercrime intervention using experimental designs and developing analytic strategies capable of predicting cybercrime involvement.

Cassandra E. Dodge

Cassandra Dodge is a doctoral candidate at the University of South Florida. She earned a master’s in Criminal Justice Sciences at Illinois State University in 2016 and completed a graduate certificate in digital forensics from the University of South Florida in 2017. She anticipates completing her doctorate in 2021. Before pursing higher education, Dodge served in the United States Air Force as a Security Forces Journeyman. Her research interests include cybercrime, technology in crime and justice, crimes as prosecuted through the military justice system, and LGBT issues in justice.

George W. Burruss

George W. Burruss, Ph.D., is associate professor in the Department of Criminology at the University of South Florida and affiliated with the Florida Cybersecurity Center. He received his Ph.D. in criminology and criminal justice from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 2001. Before earning his doctorate, Burruss served as a fraud investigator with the Office of Missouri Attorney General. His research focuses on criminal justice organizations, including policing, homeland security and juvenile courts. Also, he studies the causes and correlates of offending in cyberspace and how the police respond to cybercrime. He recently published a book with colleagues, “Policing Cybercrime and Cyberterror”.

David Maimon

David Maimon is an Associate Professor in the department of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Georgia State University. He received his Ph.D. in Sociology from the Ohio State University in 2009. Prior to joining Georgia State University ranks, David held a professor position in the University of Maryland. David’s research interests include theories of human behaviors, cyber-enabled and cyber-dependent crimes and experimental research methods. In 2015 he was awarded the “Young Scholar Award” from the “White-Collar Crime Research Consortium of the National White-Collar Crime Center” for his cybercrime research. He is also the recipient of the “Philip Merrill Presidential Scholars Faculty Mentor Award” (from the University of Maryland), and the “Best Publication award in Mental Health” (from the American Sociological Association). His current research focuses on computer hacking and the progression of system trespassing events, computer networks vulnerabilities to cyber attacks, and decision-making process in cyber space. He is also conducting research on intellectual property and cyber fraud.