An acronym for Money, Ideology, Coercion, and Ego, the primary
motivations for insiders to commit malicious acts.
- Money: Large personal debt, conspicuous
consumption problems, expensive taste, greed, etc.
- Ideology: political, religious,
extremist, belief that actions are helping a portion of society,
etc.
- Coercion: Blackmail, threat of physical
harm to the insider or their family, etc.
- Ego: anger/revenge, self-image, problems
at work or home, divided loyalties, mentally unstable, finds
adventure or thrill in malicious acts, etc.
Some agencies in the intelligence community suggest that the
MICE acronym should be changed to MICES, with Sex forming the last
letter of the acronym. Using sex as a payment for information
or actions, as well as sexual entrapment and blackmail, are common
techniques used to entice insiders into participating in malicious
acts.
