The Dark Side of Cybersecurity: Dark Tetrad Personality Traits and the Psychology of Insider Threats

Hello esteemed readers and corporate security leaders,

I am Dr. Alper KÜÇÜK, a behavioral cybersecurity specialist.

In this article, we will examine one of the most complex topics in the field of Behavioral Cybersecurity: the Dark Tetradpersonality traits and how these traits increase the likelihood of insider threat behavior. While the earlier literature largely focused on the Dark Triad, the addition of Sadism—particularly its manifestation as Cyber Sadism—has increasingly appeared in recent publications. This prompted a deeper examination of the concept.

Today, the greatest battles in cybersecurity are no longer fought at the perimeter of the corporate network—they occur inside, within the minds and motives of employees. Traditional security measures focus heavily on external threats, yet some of the most costly and destructive breaches are carried out, intentionally or negligitionally, by individuals who already have legitimate access to corporate systems: Insider Threats.

I. What Is the Dark Tetrad?

The Dark Tetrad refers to four socially aversive and manipulative personality traits:

• Narcissism: Grandiosity, entitlement, and lack of empathy

• Machiavellianism: Manipulativeness, emotional detachment, and a willingness to exploit others

• Psychopathy: High impulsivity, emotional coldness, and lack of remorse

• Everyday Sadism: Pleasure derived from causing physical or psychological pain to others

These traits are not limited to criminals; they are present to varying degrees within the general population, especially in corporate environments. In a cybersecurity context, they may signal an increased likelihood of rule-breaking, security violations, and intentional or unintentional harm to the organization.

II. How the Dark Tetrad Manifests in Cybersecurity Behavior

Each Dark Tetrad trait amplifies insider threat behavior in distinct ways:

Narcissism & Rule Violations

Employees with high narcissistic tendencies may view security protocols as obstacles to their self-perceived privileged status. They may justify negligent actions—such as disabling MFA or using weak passwords—because they see themselves as “above the rules.”

This elevates the risk of Negligent Insider Threats.

Machiavellianism & Data Leakage

Machiavellian individuals do not hesitate to manipulate, exploit, or betray others for personal gain (e.g., promotion, money).

They are more prone to selling sensitive information, collaborating with external attackers, or engaging in corporate espionage.

Psychopathy & Intentional Damage

Emotional coldness, impulsivity, and lack of remorse make psychopathic individuals particularly dangerous.

In moments of conflict (e.g., termination, demotion), they may engage in Malicious Insider Attacks, seeking retaliation without regard for consequences.

Sadism & Cyber Bullying / Sabotage

Everyday Sadism fuels motivation for intentional digital harm—not for gain, but purely for pleasure.

Examples include:

• Cyberbullying or harassment of colleagues

• Disrupting workflows

• Sabotaging systems to cause chaos

• Damaging data simply to observe suffering or loss

A Closer Look: Everyday Sadism & Motivated Cyber Sabotage

As the most recent addition to the Dark Tetrad, Everyday Sadism describes a person’s tendency to derive pleasure from harming, humiliating, or distressing others.

In cybersecurity, this trait fuels one of the most dangerous and difficult-to-detect insider threat motivations: “Pure Enjoyment.”

Key behavioral manifestations:

Cyberbullying & Harassment

These individuals may send abusive emails, disrupt colleagues’ work, or intentionally create digital obstacles.

The goal is not personal gain, but psychological gratification from another person’s suffering.

System Sabotage

The most severe reflection of cyber sadism includes:

• Deleting critical corporate data

• Altering system configurations

• Crashing networks

• Creating operational failures

A sadistic insider may do this solely for the pleasure of watching chaos unfold.

Because this attacker understands the internal system deeply, the damage often exceeds that of external attacks.

Monitoring & Manipulation

Sadistic insiders frequently track the impact of their actions, observing victims’ reactions closely.

This increases the complexity of forensic investigations and incident response.

For these reasons, Behavioral Cybersecurity strategies must incorporate psychological risk factors, not only financial stress or job dissatisfaction.

III. Behavioral Cybersecurity & Risk Management

Traditional monitoring tools alone cannot prevent insider threats. A comprehensive, behavior-driven, multi-layered strategy is required:

1. Behavioral Baseline Monitoring (UBA/UEBA)

User Behavior Analytics can detect deviations from normal activity patterns—such as unusual login times, abnormal file access, or suspicious movement across systems.

Individuals with Dark Tetrad tendencies are more likely to deviate from established baselines.

2. Psychological Safety Culture

Leadership must foster an environment where employees can report mistakes, anomalies, or concerns without fear of punishment.

High psychological safety increases honesty and reduces hidden malicious behavior, enabling earlier detection of insider threats.

3. Personality-Based Risk Assessment

During hiring or promotions for sensitive roles (system admins, finance, R&D), organizations should use:

• Personality inventories

• Structured behavioral interviews

• Behavioral risk indicators

Early detection of Sadism and Psychopathy trends can significantly reduce risks associated with:

• Deliberate sabotage

• Data manipulation

• Unauthorized system interference

Conclusion

The Dark Tetrad is a reality that cybersecurity can no longer ignore.

Strengthening cybersecurity is not only about updating software—it requires understanding and managing the psychological structures that shape human behavior.

By integrating behavioral science into cybersecurity strategy, organizations can better detect, prevent, and mitigate the human-driven threats that pose the greatest risk to modern enterprises.

Dr. Alper Küçük

Computer Engineer, Technology Entrepreneur

Behavioral Cybersecurity Specialist

Dark Tetrad

Dark Triad vs Dark Tetrad

Behavioral Cybersecurity

Insider Threat

Insider Threat Psychology

Cyber Sadism

Everyday Sadism

Organizational Cybersecurity

Human Risk Management

Insider Threat Indicators

Behavioral Risk Assessment