University  of  Colorado  Denver  School  of  Public  Affairs  

 

1    

   

Cybercrime  and  Digital  Evidence    CRJU-­‐6600  /  Fall  2015  

   Course  Outline    

   Instructor:  Daniel  Burke    (MCJ,  CCFP,  SCERS,  A+)  Email:    daniel.burke@ucdenver.edu  Cell  Phone:    (will  be  provided)    Office  Hours:    See  section  below  on  communicating    

with  the  Instructor.    Course  Time/Dates:  August  17,  2015-­‐December12,  2015    Location:    Online  via  Canvas.          Course  Materials:    There  is  no  textbook  for  this  class.    Readings  will  be  provided  electronically  or  during  class  to  include  topics  in  current  events.        Course  Description:  Criminal  justice  professionals  must  now  be  proficient  at  locating,  acquiring,  understanding,  preserving  and  presenting  digital  evidence;  evidence  that  could  be  encrypted  on  a  suspect’s  phone  or  on  a  server  halfway  around  the  world.    This  class  will  explore  cybercrime  and  digital  forensics.    We  will  examine  the  successes  and  failures  of  digital  evidence  through  an  in-­‐depth  examination  of  the  tricks,  techniques,  frustrations  and  famous  cases  in  pursuit  of  digital  justice.    Objectives:      Upon  completion  of  this  course  the  student  should  be  able  to:          1. Have  a  general  understanding  of  modern  computing  systems  and  Internet  architecture.  2. Have  an  advanced  understanding  of  cybercrime  schemes,  methods  of  detection  and  investigation.  3. Understand  the  legal  requirements  necessary  to  access  and  search  various  forms  of  digital  evidence.  4. Understand  how  to  identify,  acquire  and  preserve  digital  evidence.  5. Be  able  to  recognize  and  process  a  digital  crime  scene.  6. Know  rules  and  procedures  regarding  e-­‐discovery  and  the  presentation  of  digital  evidence  in  court.        Grading  Factors:    

• Five-­‐  20  question  tests  taken  online  via  Canvas.    Each  test  question  is  worth  2  points  totaling  200  Points.      • A  50  question  cumulative  final  exam  taken  online  via  Canvas.    Each  exam  question  is  worth  1  point  totaling  

50  points.      • There  are  14  weekly  discussion  topics,  each  worth  5  points  totaling  70  points.    Discussion  posts  must  be  

thorough  and  well  researched.    All  sources  should  be  cited  in  APA  format.    See  below  for  some  helpful  links  on  APA  formatting.      

   

  2  

• There  are  a  total  of  320  points  possible  in  this  class.              Course  Requirements:    Students  are  expected  to  participate  in  all  class  activities  and  complete  tests,  discussion  responses  and  the  final  exam  as  scheduled.  Each  student  must  contribute  to  the  weekly  discussion  topics  in  a  meaningful  way.  Saying,  “I  agree  or  disagree”  or  merely  asking  questions  of  other  students  is  not  meaningful;  provide  substantive  content  for  others  to  respond  to.    Failure  to  complete  responses,  tests  or  the  final  exam  on  time  will  result  in  the  loss  of  5  points  per  day  missed.        Attendance:    There  are  15  class  weeks  in  this  online  class.  Contact  the  instructor  if  you  anticipate  a  prolonged  absence.    Please  make  an  effort  to  attend  all  class  sessions.    Course  Grading:        A  =  100%  -­‐  93%     B  =  86%  -­‐  83%     C  =  76%  –  73%     D  =  66%  -­‐  63%    A-­‐  =  92%  -­‐  90%     B-­‐  =  82%  -­‐  80%     C-­‐  =  72%-­‐70%     D-­‐  =  62%-­‐60%    

 Please  do  not  request  extra  credit  assignments  to  make  up  for  a  lower  then  desired  grade.        You  can  access  your  grades  at  any  time  within  the  Canvas  grade  book.        Incomplete  Work:    Incomplete  grades  are  not  given  to  replace  low  grades.  The  current  university  policy  concerning  incomplete  grades  will  be  followed  in  this  course.  Incomplete  grades  are  given  only  in  situations  where  unexpected  emergencies  prevent  a  student  from  completing  the  course  and  the  remaining  work  can  be  completed  the  next  semester.  Your  instructor  is  the  final  authority  on  whether  you  qualify  for  an  incomplete.  Incomplete  work  must  be  finished  by  the  end  of  the  subsequent  semester  or  the  “I”  will  automatically  be  recorded  as  an  “F”  on  your  transcript.    APA  Formatting:    Here  are  some  links  that  will  assist  with  APA  formatting:    http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/SPA/About/Videos/Pages/default.aspx  (scroll  down  to  see  the  APA  video  ).  The  Purdue  owl  website  is  also  very  helpful:  https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/    Standards  of  Behavior:    The  instructor  expects  each  student  to  conduct  themselves  in  a  professional  manner  at  all  times  and  be  respectful  of  fellow  students  and  the  instructor.    The  topics  covered  in  this  class  are  often  controversial  and  are  offered  to  foster  spirited  and  thoughtful  debate.    Recording  of  lectures  is  prohibited  without  the  express  permission  of  the  instructor.          Academic  dishonesty  is  a  serious  offense  because  it  diminishes  the  quality  of  scholarship  and  the  learning  experience  for  everyone  on  campus.  An  act  of  academic  dishonesty  may  lead  to  sanctions  including  a  reduction  in  grade  (up  to  and  including  a  permanent  F  for  the  course),  probation,  suspension,  or  expulsion.  Academic  dishonesty  includes  cheating,  fabrication,  plagiarism,  submitting  the  same  paper  or  work  for  more  than  one  class,  and  facilitating  academic  dishonesty.  Plagiarism  is  the  presentation  of  someone  else’s  ideas  or  work  as  one’s  own.  Without  exception,  students  found  plagiarizing  will  receive  no  points  for  the  writing  assignment.  Please  reference  the  UC  Denver  Student  Academic  Honor  Code  for  additional  information.    

   

  3  

Student  Assistance:    To  ensure  disability-­‐related  concerns  are  properly  addressed,  students  with  disabilities  who  require  assistance  to  participate  in  this  class  should  contact  the  Office  of  Disability  Resources  and  Services,  North  Classroom  2514/303.556.3450  to  request  accommodation.  UCD  is  committed  to  provide  reasonable  accommodation  and  access  to  students  with  disabilities.    Students  called  for  Military  Duty:    If  you  are  a  student  serving  our  country  in  the  military  with  the  potential  of  being  called  to  military  service  and  /or  training  during  the  course  of  the  semester,  you  are  encouraged  to  contact  your  school/college  Associate  Dean  or  Advising  Office  immediately.    Religious  Observances:  Please  inform  me  in  advance  if  you  are  unable  to  complete  a  class  requirement  in  time  in  order  to  to  observe  a  holy  day  of  your  religious  faith.    I  am  happy  to  accommodate  you.        Communicating  with  the  Instructor:    I  generally  check  email  in  the  evenings  and  on  weekends.    As  a  Lecturer,  I  have  other  daily  responsibilities  and  often  travel  internationally  as  well.    Therefore,  I  am  unavailable  during  normal  working  hours.  However,  it  is  very  important  to  me  that  I  make  myself  available  to  my  students.    My  promise  to  you  is  that  I  will  do  my  very  best  to  answer  your  email  or  voicemail  within  24  hours  or  less.    Please  also  feel  free  to  call  me  on  my  cell  phone,  which  will  be  provided.    The  best  time  for  me  to  take  your  call  is  M-­‐F  between  5  and  9  P.M.  or  weekends  from  9  A.M.  to  9  P.M.    Title  5,  CFR  2635.807  Disclosure:    The  activity  is  not  undertaken  as  part  of  the  instructor’s  official  duties  with  the  United  States  Government,  is  part  of  the  regularly  established  curriculum  of  this  institution  and  is  conducted  during  non-­‐duty  hours.      The  information  contained  in  this  class  does  not  draw  substantially  on  ideas  or  official  data  that  are  nonpublic  information  or  involve  any  official  matter  to  which  the  instructor  presently  is  assigned  or  to  which  the  instructor  had  been  assigned  during  the  previous  one-­‐year  period;  or  any  ongoing  or  announced  policy,  program  or  operation  of  the  U.S.  Government  agency  that  employs  the  instructor.                                                    

   

  4  

     

   Tentative  Schedule    -­‐  Fall  2015  Note  that  the  schedule  is  subject  to  change.  

 Week  of:   Topic:     Assignment  August  17   Class  overview   Discussion  responses  due  by  Saturday.  

August  24   Modern  computing  systems  and  Internet  architecture.   Discussion  responses  due  by  Saturday.  

August  31   Modern  computing  systems  and  Internet  architecture.  

Discussion  responses  due  by  Saturday.  Block  #1  test  open  Thursday  to  Saturday.      

September  7   Cybercrime  schemes   Discussion  responses  due  by  Saturday.  September  14   Cybercrime  schemes   Discussion  responses  due  by  Saturday.  

September  21   Cybercrime  schemes   Discussion  responses  due  by  Saturday.  Block  #2  test  open  Thursday  to  Saturday.      

September  28   Overview  of  the  law.   Discussion  responses  due  by  Saturday.  

October  5   Overview  of  the  law.   Discussion  responses  due  by  Saturday.  Block  #3  test  open  Thursday  to  Saturday.      

October  12   Investigating,  identifying,  acquiring  and  preserving  digital  evidence.  

Discussion  responses  due  by  Saturday.    

October  19   Investigating,  identifying,  acquiring  and  preserving  digital  evidence.  

Discussion  responses  due  by  Saturday.    

October  26   Investigating,  identifying,  acquiring  and  preserving  digital  evidence.  

Discussion  responses  due  by  Saturday.  Block  #4  test  open  Thursday  to  Saturday.  

November  2   The  digital  crime  scene   Discussion  responses  due  by  Saturday.    

November  9   Digital  evidence  in  court   Discussion  responses  due  by  Saturday.  

November  16   The  psyche  of  cybercrime   Discussion  responses  due  by  Saturday.  Block  #5  test  open  Thursday  to  Saturday.      

November  23   Fall  Break  –  No  Classes    

November  30   Class  summary   No  discussion  response  this  week.      December  7   Finals  Week   Final  Exam  open  Monday  to  Wednesday.      

   

   

"There  are  two  kinds  of  big  companies  in  the  United  States:  those  who've  been  hacked  by  the  Chinese  and  those  who  don't  yet  know  that  they've  been  hacked  by  the  Chinese."  

 ~  FBI  Director  James  Comey