Students

PICT2001 – Cybercrime

2026 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Ben Scott
ben.scott@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.

General Assessment Information

Weekly Quizzes

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

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

A 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.

Assessment support and notes

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.

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

An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.  

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI assisted?
Powerpoint Presentation 40% No Ongoing Individual No Open AI
Weekly Quizzes 20% No Week 7 Individual No Open AI
Research Essay 40% No Week 12 Individual No Open AI

Powerpoint Presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 33 hours
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?: Open

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.

Weekly Quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Problem-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 13 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 20%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?: Open

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.

Research Essay

Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?: Open

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.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

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 activities and discussion forums, and preparing assessments.
  • Internal students are expected to attend all seminar or tutorial sessions. External students are expected to make significant contributions to online 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 required readings for this unit are available to enrolled students through the unit iLearn site and the University Library. 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, including word processing, are required.
  • This unit has an online presence. Login is via the unit iLearn site.
  • Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient.

Submitting assessment tasks

  • All text-based assessment tasks are to be submitted, marked, and returned electronically via the unit iLearn site.
  • Assessment tasks must be submitted as a Microsoft Word document by the due date specified.
  • Assessment tasks may be subject to text-matching software as part of the submission process.

Late submission of assessment tasks

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a penalty of 5% of the total possible mark will be applied for each calendar day an assessment is submitted late, up to a maximum of 7 days (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of zero will be awarded, even if the assessment is submitted.

Submission time for all written assessments is 11.55 pm. A one-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.

Late penalties apply to non–time-sensitive assessment tasks, such as essays, reports, portfolios, journals, and recorded submissions. Late submission of time-sensitive assessment tasks, such as tests, examinations, presentations, or scheduled practical assessments, will only be considered through an approved Special Consideration application.

Reassessment and grade review

  • 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 assessment tasks are not subject to regrading during the semester.

Staff availability

  • Teaching staff will endeavour to respond to student enquiries in a timely manner. However, emails or iLearn messages will not be answered on weekends or public holidays.
  • Students are encouraged to consult the Unit Guide and materials available on the iLearn site before contacting teaching staff.  

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/

Academic Success

Academic Success 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 2026.02 of the Handbook