How teenage hackers hijack the internet

This episode of RNZ's All Programmes explores the rising threat of teenage hackers who are reshaping the landscape of cybercrime with unprecedented scale and creativity. BBC cyber correspondent Joe Tidy, author of 'Control Alt Chaos: How Teenage Hackers Hijack the Internet,' shares insights from his deep dive into the world of adolescent cybercriminals—particularly those involved in high-profile attacks like the 2014 Lizard Squad DDoS assault on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live. He details how these teens, often operating in online communities via Discord and Telegram, are driven not by financial gain alone but by a desire for attention, chaos, and social validation. The episode highlights the chilling case of Julius Kivamaki, a Finnish hacker who, as a 23-year-old, orchestrated one of the most malicious cyberattacks in history by stealing and leaking 33,000 psychiatric patient records, causing profound psychological trauma. Tidy argues that traditional justice systems fail to deter these teens due to their sense of invincibility and the social centrality of hacking in their lives. He calls for a dual approach: educating youth on the moral weight of cybercrime and redirecting their skills toward legitimate, rewarding careers in cybersecurity and bug bounty programs.