Skip to main content
University of Nebraska Omaha logo University of Nebraska Omaha
APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY

Students Faculty Staff Community
University of Nebraska Omaha logo
A U.S. Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center (NCITE)
APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY
Students Faculty Staff Community
  • About Backback to Main menu
    • We Are NCITE
    • Newsletters
    • Our Community
    • Center Directory
  • Research Backback to Main menu
    • NCITE Research
    • Published Reports
    • Annual Request for Proposals
  • News Backback to Main menu
    • News Center
    • NCITE in the News
  • Events Backback to Main menu
    • Upcoming Events
    • ENVISION Conference
  • Get Involved Backback to Main menu
    • Donate to NCITE
    • Job Opportunities
  • Podcast

Backgrounds of Extremist Cyber Attackers

  1. UNO
  2. National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center (NCITE)
  3. Our Research
  4. Backgrounds of Extremist Cyber Attackers

How to prevent cyberattacks and how to strengthen reporting mechanisms to make prevention occur?

Assessing the Life Histories and Backgrounds of Ideologically Motivated Actors Engaging in Cyberattacks and Online Violence

This project seeks to prevent a potential cyber 9/11. The thrust is by bolstering the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative through a more comprehensive look at how online behavior of bad actors mirrors offline behavior, how predictive cybercrime might be of physical crime and how better to inform law enforcement.

Objective/Purpose

The primary goal of this project is to improve SAR protocols as they relate to online violence and pre-operational planning behaviors. To do so, this project uses criminology theories and archival information from online platforms to examine the social and developmental life histories of individuals who have engaged in three forms of behavior: 1) ideologically motivated cybercrimes, 2) targeted violence through online platforms, and 3) targeted violence in physical spaces as a function of belief in an ideology born online.

Methodology

This project will use information from multiple online repositories (e.g., media sources, watch group data, offender self-reporting, scholarly sources, and official government reports). The data will be analyzed with case study methods and content analysis procedures before findings are translated into practitioner-oriented knowledge products.

Investigators

Thomas Holt, Micighan State University Professor of Criminal Justice

Steve Chermak, Michigan State University Professor of Criminal Justice

Joshua D. Freilich, John Jay College Professor of Criminal Justice

Contact Us

  • University of Nebraska Omaha
  • NCITE

  • Media Inquiries—Erin Grace: egrace@unomaha.edu

  • Grant Inquiries: nciterfp@unomaha.edu

  • General Inquiries: ncite@unomaha.edu

  • Meet Our Team

National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center (NCITE)

Connect with NCITE
  • 6001 Dodge St.
  • Omaha, NE
  • ncite@unomaha.edu
Social media
Our DHS Partners
  • Centers of Excellence
  • Science & Technology Directorate (S&T)
  • Office of University Programs (OUP)

Next Steps

  • Visit UNO
  • Request Information
  • Apply for Admission
  • The UNO Advantage
  • Our City (Omaha)

Just For You

  • Future Students
  • Current Students
  • Work at UNO
  • Faculty and Staff
  • A-Z List

Popular Services and Resources

  • my.unomaha.edu
  • Academic Calendar
  • Campus Buildings & Maps
  • Library
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Course Catalogs
  • Internships & Career Development
  • The Maverick Store
  • MavCARD Services
  • Military-Connected Resource Center
  • Speech Center
  • Writing Center
  • Human Resources
  • Center for Faculty Excellence

Affiliates

  • University of Nebraska System
  • NU Foundation
  • Buffett Early Childhood Institute
  • Daugherty Water for Food Institute
  • National Strategic Research Institute
  • Peter Kiewit Institute
  • Rural Prosperity Nebraska
  1. University Policies
  2. Privacy Statement
  3. Accessibility
  1. 402.554.2800

University of Nebraska Omaha
University of Nebraska Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68182
  • ©  
  • Emergency Information Alert
  • MavsReport

Social Media


Omaha Skyline

Our Campus. Otherwise Known as Omaha.

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its education programs or activities, including admissions and employment. The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity. Read the full statement.