A Threat Matrix for Socially Motivated Cybercriminals/iPredopaths

A starter framework towards addressing the types of persistent threats which are often incubated within toxic Internet cultures such as Kiwi Farms.

In our increasingly digital world, a new type of socially motivated, highly predatory online actor is emerging—known as "iPredopaths." These individuals excel at psychological manipulation online, surpassing typical cyberbullies and trolls.

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iPredopaths employ a mix of advanced tactics to exploit human weaknesses. They operate in a manner that transcends traditional cybersecurity boundaries, affecting not just tech experts but also psychologists, law enforcement, and social workers. The term iPredopath and its associated framework were developed by psychologist Dr. Michael Nuccitelli, whose diagnostic criteria I previously excerpted in this publication to better help my readers understand these actors and their behaviors.

These individuals rely heavily on psychological manipulation, using coercive and deceptive tactics to harm victims. While they can infiltrate online and offline communities to identify or deepen their influence over potential victims, they o…