The Impact of Potential Risks on the Use of Exploitable Online Communities: The Case of South Korean Cyber-Security Communities

Abstract

The aim of this study is to gain a comprehensive understanding of how risk and value factors affect the intention to use South Korean exploitable cyber-security communities based on the value-maximisation perspective of economics. According to the research model—applying the theory of planned behaviour, prospect theory and perceived risk theory—the test results revealed that intention is negatively affected by security threats, privacy concerns, performance risk and social risk of malicious use. Security threats had a positive impact on privacy concerns. The test results also indicated that perceived value affects both attitude and intention significantly and positively. The findings demonstrate that online-community users, such as computer experts and hackers, are influenced by various sources of perceived risks and perceived value when using exploitable cyber-security communities.