A global hacker group steals credit card information from a financial institution. What is their likely motivation?

The motivation of stealing credit card information from a financial institution is most likely driven by financial gain. Cybercriminals often target sensitive financial data because it can be directly monetized through various means such as selling the information on the dark web, using it for fraudulent transactions, or exploiting it to gain direct access to victims' funds. The primary motivation in most cases involving credit card theft revolves around the potential for substantial financial profit.

While other motivations like making a political statement or seeking revenge exist within the broader landscape of cybercrime, these typically do not align with the direct and immediate benefits associated with the theft of credit card information. Intellectual property theft, although a significant threat, generally refers to the illicit acquisition of proprietary business information or trade secrets, rather than financial data like credit card details. Thus, in the context of this scenario, the most plausible and direct motivation remains financial gain.