Students

PICT8040 – Cyber Crime and Cyber Policing

2024 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Lecturer
Jeffrey Foster
UC
Jennifer Williams
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MPICT or MCPICT or GradDipPICT or GradDipCPICT or PGCertPICT or MPICTMIntSecSt or MCPICTMIntSecSt or MIntSecStud or GradDipIntSecStud or GradCertIntell or MCTerrorism or MCyberSec or GradDipSecStudCr or GradCertSecStudCr or MIntell or MSecStrategicStud or MCrim or MSecStrategicStudMCrim or MSecStrategicStudMIntell or MSecStrategicStudMCyberSec or MSecStrategicStudMCTerrorism or MIntellMCrim or MIntellMCyberSec or MIntellMCTerrorism or MCyberSecMCTerrorism or MCyberSecMCrim or MCTerrorismMCrim or Master of Cyber Security Analysis or MBusAnalytics or MInfoSystMgmt or MInfoTechCyberSec or MInfoTechNetWork or ((Admission to BSecStudMCTerrorism or BSecStudMCrim or BSecStudMCyberSecAnalysis or BSecStudMIntell or BSecStudMSecStrategicStud) and (50 cp at 2000 level)).
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
Cybercrime refers to an array of criminal activity including offences against computer data and systems, computer-related offences, content offences, and copyright offences. While early computer hackers were more interested in youthful exploration, modern cybercrime is increasingly about criminal profit and this is reflected in the involvement of transnational organised crime groups. This unit will explore the types of cybercrime, the perpetrators, and investigation techniques.

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: Understand, analyse, and critically discuss different types of cyber crime activities with respect to the motivations, methods of operation of offenders, and the types of victims/targets.
  • ULO2: Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of past, current cyber threats and future trends in high tech crime.
  • ULO3: Analyse the impact of cyber crime on government, businesses, society and individuals.
  • ULO4: Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of strategies and steps to investigate digital evidence.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Weekly Quizzes 10% No Weekly, beginning Week 3
Research Essay 50% No 27th, October @ 11:59PM
Case Study 30% No 15th, September @ 11:59pm
Weekly Participation 10% No Weekly, beginning Week 3

Weekly Quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 11 hours
Due: Weekly, beginning Week 3
Weighting: 10%

 

10 weekly quizzes

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand, analyse, and critically discuss different types of cyber crime activities with respect to the motivations, methods of operation of offenders, and the types of victims/targets.
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of past, current cyber threats and future trends in high tech crime.
  • Analyse the impact of cyber crime on government, businesses, society and individuals.
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of strategies and steps to investigate digital evidence.

Research Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 43 hours
Due: 27th, October @ 11:59PM
Weighting: 50%

 

Research Essay on Specific Cyber Crime Issue

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand, analyse, and critically discuss different types of cyber crime activities with respect to the motivations, methods of operation of offenders, and the types of victims/targets.
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of past, current cyber threats and future trends in high tech crime.
  • Analyse the impact of cyber crime on government, businesses, society and individuals.
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of strategies and steps to investigate digital evidence.

Case Study

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 22 hours
Due: 15th, September @ 11:59pm
Weighting: 30%

 

Cyber Breach Case Study

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand, analyse, and critically discuss different types of cyber crime activities with respect to the motivations, methods of operation of offenders, and the types of victims/targets.
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of past, current cyber threats and future trends in high tech crime.
  • Analyse the impact of cyber crime on government, businesses, society and individuals.
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of strategies and steps to investigate digital evidence.

Weekly Participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 0 hours
Due: Weekly, beginning Week 3
Weighting: 10%

 

Weekly participation in weekly discussions

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand, analyse, and critically discuss different types of cyber crime activities with respect to the motivations, methods of operation of offenders, and the types of victims/targets.
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of past, current cyber threats and future trends in high tech crime.
  • Analyse the impact of cyber crime on government, businesses, society and individuals.
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of strategies and steps to investigate digital evidence.

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

Lectures will take place live during the scheduled class times (Wednesday 6pm-8pm) with the lecture recording made available via Echo360 immeddiately afterwards for online participation.

Resources and readings will be available via iLearn.

 

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 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of‚ 0 (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.  

This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic

 

WORD LIMITS FOR ASSESSMENT TASKS  

Stated word limits include footnotes and footnoted references, but not bibliography, or title page.  

Word limits can generally deviate by 10% either over or under the stated figure.  

If the number of words deviates from the limit by more than 10%, then penalties will apply. These penalties are 5% of the awarded mark for every 100 words deviation from the word limit. If a paper is 300 words over, for instance, it will lose 3 x 5% = 15% of the total mark awarded for the assignment. This percentage is taken off the total mark, i.e. if a paper was graded at a credit (65%) and was 300 words over, it would be reduced by 15 marks to a pass (50%).  

The application of this penalty is at the discretion of the course convener.  

 

REASSESSMENT OF ASSIGNMENTS DURING THE SEMESTER  

Macquarie University operates a Final Grade Appeal procedure as part of the Assessment policy in cases where students feel their work was graded inappropriately: https://policies.mq.edu.au/document/view.php?id=277

In accordance with the Grade Appeal procedure, individual works are not subject to regrading. 

  

STAFF AVAILABILITY  

Department staff will endeavour to answer student enquiries in a timely manner. However, emails or iLearn messages will not usually be answered over the weekend or public holiday period.  

Students are encouraged to read the Unit Guide and look at instructions posted on the iLearn site before sending email requests to staff. 

Unit Schedule

Module

Week Starting

Topic

Primary Reading

1

22 Jul 2024

Intro & Overview

Ch. 1: Technology & Cybercrime

2

29 Jul 2024

History of Cyber Crime

Ch. 3: Computer Hackers & Hacking

3

5 Aug 2024

Digital Piracy and IP Theft

Ch. 5: Digital Piracy & Intellectual Property Theft

4

12 Aug 2024

Cyber Crime Methods

Ch. 4: Malware & Automated Computer Attacks

5

19 Aug 2024

Cyber Enabled Crime

Ch. 12: Illicit Market Operations Online

6

26 Aug 2024

Cyber Stalking and Cyber Bullying

Ch. 9: CyberBullying, Online Harassment, & CyberStalking

7

2 Sep 2024

Predatory and Content Crime

Ch. 8: Child Sexual Exploitation Material Offences

8

9 Sep 2024

Financial Cyber Crime

Ch. 6: Online Fraud

InterSession Break

16 Sep 2024

 

 

InterSession Break

23 Sep 2024

 

 

9

30 Sep 2024

The Rise of AI CyberCrime

TBD

10

7 Oct 2024

Digital Forensics and Cyber Investigation

Ch. 14: Evolution of Digital Forensics

11

14 Oct 2024

Modern Cyber-warfare

Ch. 11: Cyberwarfare & Information Operations Online

12

21 Oct 2024

TBD

TBD

13

28 Oct 2024

Wrap-up

 

 *Note: Schedule may be altered with prior notice by the lecturer or UC at any time.

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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

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

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

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.


Unit information based on version 2024.01 of the Handbook