Module SOCI41030: Cybercrime and Cybersecurity

Department: Sociology

SOCI41030: Cybercrime and Cybersecurity

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To focus critical attention on how and the ways in which crime and security have become transformed in the information age.
• To develop a critical understanding of the three different types of groups of cybercrime that are emerging as problematic.
• To explore, analytical within a (grounded) criminological conceptual framework, theoretical understandings of crime in the information age (and the three core crime groups – crime against the machine, crime using the machine, crime in the machine).
• To discuss critically the role of law and other forms of regulation (including policing) within that framework of control.
• To examine critically the nature and role of media representations of crime in the information age.

Content

• What are cybercrimes and what do we know about them? How do we understand them – what is the role of media? Understanding crime in the information age.
• How have networked technologies changed opportunities for criminal activity? The transformation of criminal activity in cyberspace.
• What are cybercrimes? i) crimes against the machine (e.g., Hacking) ii) crimes using the machine (e.g., frauds) iii) Crimes in the machine (e.g. pornography and hate crime).
• How is criminal activity continuing to change in the information age? The automation of offender-victim engagement.
• How is cyberspace policed and by whom? Policing online behaviour to maintain order and law on the cyberbeat.
• How are cybercrimes to be regulated and prevented?

Learning Outcomes

• A critical knowledge and critical understanding of the ways in which criminological perspectives can be applied to the study of crime in the information age.
• A critical knowledge and understanding of major theoretical work on the three types of cybercrime.
• A critical appreciation of the complex methodological problems and ethical issues involved in researching crime in the information age.
• Critical knowledge and understanding of the nature and role of media representations of crime in the information age.

• Critically evaluate relevant criminological arguments and evidence.
• Formulate criminology informed questions with specific reference to relevant issues and debates pertaining to specific forms of cybercrime.
• Employ abstract criminological concepts and use these concepts to express an understanding of specific forms of crime in the information age.

• A critical ability to gather appropriate information about the subject area from a range of different online and offline sources
• An understanding of the nature and relative value of those sources
• An ability to construct systematic and coherent written arguments within this new subfield of criminology

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Nine two hour weekly lectures will provide the framework within which to explore crime in the information age and the three cybercrime areas.
• Four two hour seminars will provide an opportunity for seminar tutors to work with small groups, exploring in greater depth, and collectively, themes and issues arising from the lectures and associated reading. A proportion of seminars will be structured around student presentations. For these, students will work beforehand in twos/threes on a topic congruent with the learning outcomes for this module, as indicated in the Module Programme.
• Summative: two summative essays will enable students to demonstrate their achievement and understanding of a specific topic in depth and to construct a systematic discussion within word-limited constraints.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

None.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University