Researchers of the St. Petersburg Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SPC RAS) taught professional development courses in cyber forensics to members of the Investigative Committee from various regions of Russia. The classes are aimed at improving the competence of investigators while crimes detection in the digital environment.
According to open sources data the number of crimes somehow related to the digital environment rapidly grows annually all over the world.
Based on the Procuracy General, the number of cybercrimes in the Russian Federation has 11 times increased over the past five years. Most cybercrimes occur on the Internet or via mobile communications (theft of information in social networks, theft from bank accounts and digital wallets, etc.).
In March of 2020, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation reported that a special department had been established to counter cybercrime. Already in the summer of 2021, SPC RAS got engaged into this work and made a cooperation agreement with the St. Petersburg Academy of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation. Under the agreement, specialists of the International Center for Digital Forensics, established on the basis of SPC RAS, teach classes for members of the Investigative Committee of Russia investigating the crimes in the digital environment.
"Currently, the digital forensics is actively developing all over the world. The staff members of our Center have been engaged for quite a while in research in this area and supported by the Russian Science Foundation. Cooperation with the Academy of the Investigative Committee allows for identifying the needs of practitioners involved in cybercrime investigations, and, in turn, for enhancing the set of their tools at the expense of latest research results," explains Andrey Chechulin, Head of the International Center for Digital Forensics, a Leading Researcher at the Laboratory of Computer Security Problems of SPC RAS.
The professional development courses have been divided into several stages composed of lectures on criminology in cyberspace and practical development of methods for collecting and analyzing digital evidence. The investigators were informed about the existing types of digital evidence, its correct collection and analysis, as well as of equipment that can of help. In addition, the delivered lectures also contained an overview of significant cybercrimes concerning the use of cloud systems
"Initially we only delivered lectures, and then realized that for the investigators it is utterly important to profess practical skills. Therefore, practical exercises were introduced in the final course: a cyber fraud attack was simulated, and the investigators, based on the knowledge acquired at the lectures, needed to collect the maximum possible digital evidence to detect the crime," adds Elena Fedorchenko, an employee of the International Center for Digital Forensics, Senior Researcher at the Laboratory of Computer Security Problems of SPC RAS.
Cooperation between SPC RAS and the Academy of the Investigative Committee goes on. The next stage of professional development courses for Russian investigators is scheduled for spring of 2022.