Hacktivists are threat actors, who can be described as -------------------

Hacktivism is the act of hacking or using other digital disruption techniques to promote a political or social agenda. Unlike cybercriminals motivated by financial gain, hacktivists are driven by ideology. Their activities can range from website defacement and denial-of-service attacks to leaking sensitive information to draw attention to their cause. The term itself is a portmanteau of "hacking" and "activism," directly reflecting its purpose.

A. While a political or social agenda can be rooted in religious beliefs, this option is too narrow and not the defining characteristic of all hacktivists.
B. Disgruntled or terminated employees fall under the category of insider threats, motivated by revenge or personal grievances, not broader ideological causes.
C. Threat actors motivated by monetary gains are typically classified as cybercriminals or organized crime groups, not hacktivists.

1. Denning, D. E. (2015). Activism, Hacktivism, and Cyberterrorism: The Internet as a Tool for Influencing Foreign Policy. In Cyberpower and National Security (pp. 280-315). Potomac Books. This chapter distinguishes hacktivism by its political and social motivations, contrasting it with cybercrime (financial) and cyberterrorism.

2. Goel, S. (2011). Cyber-Warfare: The Emerging Battleground. University at Albany, SUNY. School of Business. In Section 2, "Actors in Cyber-Warfare," hacktivists are explicitly defined as individuals or groups who use hacking for political or social protest.

3. Tanczer, L. M. (2015). Hacktivism and the Male-Gendering of Anonymous. International Journal of Communication, 9, 21. The introduction defines hacktivism as "the nonviolent use of illegal or legally ambiguous digital tools in pursuit of political ends." https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444816636237