Students

PICT2001 – Cybercrime

2021 – Session 1, Special circumstances, North Ryde

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Ed Moore
ed.moore@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
50cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Computer systems and networks, and the applications that they support, are essential to information flows, economic transactions and critical infrastructure in the twenty-first century. While early computer hackers were more interested in exploration, modern cybercrime is increasingly driven by activist or malicious sentiment (hacktivism), espionage and/or the desire for profit. This unit will present an overview of cyber security in practice with reference to both public and private sector organisations. The unit will look at the motives and perpetrators of cybercrime. It will explore how individuals and organisations face specific threats from their use of technology and identifies challenges in maintaining cyber and information security. It further examines the protective security measures required to protect physical and digital access to information through people, infrastructure and computer systems.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Describe and discuss criminological theories and how they relate to cybercrime.
  • ULO2: Engage in informed, scholarly debate about cybercrime and their potential impact on globalised society with fellow students and staff.
  • ULO3: Explain the importance of cyberspace in changing the nature of offending, policing and victimisation.
  • ULO4: Research and synthesise relevant policy issues.
  • ULO5: Demonstrate the ability to communicate ideas in a clear and effective manner.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Tutorial Participation 10% No Ongoing
Weekly Quizzes 20% No Weeks 2-12
Powerpoint Presentation 20% No Week 6
Research Essay 50% No Week 12

Tutorial Participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 13 hours
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 10%

Student engagement within tutorial exercises (or weekly forums for external students).
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe and discuss criminological theories and how they relate to cybercrime.
  • Engage in informed, scholarly debate about cybercrime and their potential impact on globalised society with fellow students and staff.
  • Explain the importance of cyberspace in changing the nature of offending, policing and victimisation.
  • Demonstrate the ability to communicate ideas in a clear and effective manner.

Weekly Quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Weeks 2-12
Weighting: 20%

Online weekly quizzes based on the content from the previous week to be completed by all students.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe and discuss criminological theories and how they relate to cybercrime.
  • Explain the importance of cyberspace in changing the nature of offending, policing and victimisation.

Powerpoint Presentation

Assessment Type 1: Media presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 6
Weighting: 20%

A presentation to be designed and recorded by all students based on topics within the course.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Engage in informed, scholarly debate about cybercrime and their potential impact on globalised society with fellow students and staff.
  • Explain the importance of cyberspace in changing the nature of offending, policing and victimisation.
  • Demonstrate the ability to communicate ideas in a clear and effective manner.

Research Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 50%

2,500 word research essay to be completed by all students on one of the given questions based on course content.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe and discuss criminological theories and how they relate to cybercrime.
  • Engage in informed, scholarly debate about cybercrime and their potential impact on globalised society with fellow students and staff.
  • Explain the importance of cyberspace in changing the nature of offending, policing and victimisation.
  • Research and synthesise relevant policy issues.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS

  • You should spend an average of 12 hours per week on this unit. This includes listening to lectures prior to seminar or tutorial, reading weekly required materials as detailed in iLearn, participating in Ilearn discussion forums and preparing assessments.
  • Internal students are expected to attend all seminar or tutorial sessions, and external students are expected to make significant contributions to on-line activities.
  • In most cases students are required to attempt and submit all major assessment tasks in order to pass the unit.

 

REQUIRED READINGS

  • The citations for all the required readings for this unit are available to enrolled students through the unit iLearn site, and at Macquarie University's library site.  Electronic copies of required readings may be accessed through the library or will be made available by other means.

 

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

  • Computer and internet access are essential for this unit. Basic computer skills and skills in word processing are also a requirement.
  • This unit has an online presence. Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/
  • Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient.
  • Information about IT used at Macquarie University is available at  http://students.mq.edu.au/it_services/

 

SUBMITTING ASSESSMENT TASKS

  • All text-based assessment tasks are to be submitted, marked and returned electronically.  This will only happen through the unit iLearn site. 
  • Assessment tasks must be submitted as a MS word document by the due date.
  • Most assessment tasks will be subject to a 'TurnitIn' review as an automatic part of the submission process.
  • The granting of extensions is subject to the university’s Special Consideration Policy. Extensions will not be granted by unit conveners or tutors, but must be lodged through Special Consideration: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration

 

LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS

  • Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

Unit Schedule

Week 1 Introduction
Week 2 Introduction to Cybercrime
Week 3 Social Media
Week 4 Cyber Piracy
Week 5 Online Fraud & Identity Theft
Week 6 Hacking
Week 7 Cyber Espionage
Week 8 Online drug trade & the Dark Net
Week 9 Political Hacking
Week 10 Illegal, Harmful, Offensive Content Online
Week 11 Cyber Warfare
Week 12 Prosecuting cybercrime
Week 13 The future of cybercrime & unit wrap-up

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
03/02/2021 Updated late penalty statement.

Unit information based on version 2021.02 of the Handbook