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Department of Computer Science and Technology

Masters

 

Course pages 2022–23

Cybercrime

Principal lecturer: Dr Alice Hutchings
Additional lecturers: Prof Ross Anderson, Dr Richard Clayton
Taken by: MPhil ACS, Part III
Code: R254
Term: Lent
Hours: 16
Format: In-person lectures
Class limit: max. 14 students
Prerequisites: Undergraduate security courses
Moodle, timetable

Aims

This course examines major topics relating to cybercrime from an interdisciplinary perspective. These include offence types and techniques, targets, victimisation, social and financial cost, criminal marketplaces, offenders, detection and prevention, and regulation and policing. The course outlines: key debates in cybercrime research; how crime is committed using computer systems; and provides an understanding of how cybercrime is regulated, policed, detected, and prevented.

Syllabus

The course will consist of eight two-hour sessions covering:

  • Tools and techniques of cybercrime
  • Cybercrime victimisation
  • Costs and harms of cybercrime
  • Criminal marketplaces
  • Cybercrime offenders and offender pathways
  • Cybercrime prevention (situational and social approaches)
  • Regulation and policy
  • Cybercrime and the criminal justice system

 

All participants are expected to attend and participate in every class, and to read the specified papers beforehand. The instructor must be notified of any absences in advance.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should:

  • Have a broad knowledge of the key themes, debates, theory, and research in relation to cybercrime;
  • Have developed further skills in critical analysis;
  • Have developed skills in presenting a case study, critically evaluating current issues, and writing about cybercrime;
  • Have a sound understanding of strategies to combat and prevent cybercrime;
  • Understand the ethical and practical challenges in conducting cybercrime research.

Assessment - Part II Students

You will assessed by 4 essays each worth 25% of the total marks

Recommended reading

Please see Course Materials for recommended reading for each session.

 

Assessment - Part III and MPhil students

  • 4 Essays: 1 x 1,000 words; 3 x 1,500 words (80%)
  • Presentations: each student will give one or more presentations (20%)

Further Information

Due to infectious respiratory diseases, the method of teaching for this module may be adjusted to cater for physical distancing and students who are working remotely. Unless otherwise advised, this module will be taught in person.

Current Cambridge undergraduate students who are continuing onto Part III or the MPhil in Advanced Computer Science may only take this module if they did NOT take it as a Unit of Assessment in Part II.

This module is shared with Part II of the Computer Science Tripos. Assessment will be adjusted for the two groups of students to be at an appropriate level for whichever course the student is enrolled on. Further information about assessment and practicals will follow at the first lecture.