NCJ Number
60057
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 48 Issue: 7 Dated: (JULY 1979) Pages: 9-12
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
TYPES OF COMPUTER CRIMES AND TRAINING NEEDS FOR COMPUTER CRIME INVESTIGATORS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
COMPUTER SYSTEM CRIMES INCLUDE, IN ASCENDING DIFFICULTY, INPUT/OUTPUT ALTERATIONS, COMPUTER OPERATIONS, COMPUTER PROGRAMS, AUXILIARY STORAGE MANIPULATION, OPERATING SYSTEM PENETRATION, AND COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS. SUSPECTS IN CRIMES CAN BE IDENTIFIED BY THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY OF THE CRIME. THE COMPUTER CRIME INVESTIGATOR HAS THREE LEVELS OF TRAINING NEEDS TO MATCH THE THREE BASIC LEVELS OF COMPLEXITY OF COMPUTER CRIMES. AT THE LEAST SOPHISTICATED LEVEL, AWARENESS TRAINING ADDRESSES EVIDENCE SOURCES SUCH AS THE SOURCE DOCUMENT OR THE CONSOLE LOG. TRAINING MUST STRESS TERMINOLOGY, RECOGNITION AND UNDERSTANDING OF SOURCE DOCUMENTS, AND AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION FROM CONSOLE LOGS. A COMPREHENSIVE LEVEL OF TRAINING FOCUSES ON PROGRAMS AND AUXILIARY STORAGE AND MUST THEREFORE EMPHASIZE DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN SOURCE AND OBJECT PROGRAMS AND DISCUSS JOB ACCOUNTING LOGS. THE SPECIALIST LEVEL OF TRAINING IS DESIGNED TO CREATE AWARENESS OF THE KIND OF COMPUTER SPECIALIST NEEDED TO ASSIST AND CONSULT IN HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED COMPUTER CRIMES. FBI ACADEMY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT 93 PERCENT OF COMPUTER CRIME OCCUR AT THE LOWER LEVELS OF COMPLEXITY AND CAN THEREFORE BE SUCCESSFULLY INVESTIGATED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. IN THE OTHER 7 PERCENT, THE OFFICER CAN RECOGNIZE THE LEVEL OF TECHNICAL EXPERTISE REQUIRED TO SOLVE THE CRIME. AWARENESS TRAINING LASTS 5 DAYS; COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING, 4 WEEKS, FOLLOWED BY REFRESHER TRAINING EVERY 18 MONTHS. SPECIALIST TRAINING IS GIVEN TO THOSE RECEIVING COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING. ONE FOOTNOTE AND DIAGRAMS SHOWING COMPUTER SYSTEMS, CRIMES, AND OFFENDER AND ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL CAPABILITIES ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)