Cyber detective campers pose in their new T-shirts. Photo courtesy of Arsh AroraMark Linn - Copy Editorcopy@insideuab.com
Sarah Faulkner - Editor-in-Chief
editor@insideuab.com
The UAB Department of Justice Sciences and Department of Computer and Information Sciences are hosting a summer camp for local area high school students to learn what it is like to be professionally involved in computer forensics.
Over the course of Cyber Detectives Camp, students received hands-on training on how to fight cybercrime. The first session was held on June 20-24 in a series of all-day sessions for 20 high school students in grades 10-12 from several local high schools. This was the first Cyber Detectives Camp, although UAB has hosted several summer camps covering computer forensics and programming in the past. The camp is part of UAB's goal to get pre-college students interested in pursuing careers in technology fields.
“We’ve heard that part of the problem with STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Math] education is that students, and especially young women, do not get exposed to technology in a positive way early enough in their academic careers,” said Gary Warner, director of research in computer forensics at UAB, who organized the camp.
Students got the opportunity to play the role of real-world cyber investigators with a mixture of simulated and real cases. Over the course of the camp, they examined the hard drives of a pair of would-be bank robbers, tracked down websites selling counterfeit goods and discovered the identities of members of online hacking groups. They also investigated websites that run phishing scams, which obtain sensitive online information such as passwords by posing as legitimate companies. They also got the chance to actually infect isolated computers with malware (malicious or hostile software) in order to document where criminal suspects send stolen data, which they compiled into a report to be shared with the FBI.
Warner said that the camp is one way that UAB is working to build a relationship with Birmingham-area high schools. UAB staff have been visiting local schools to learn about their technology programs and work with their instructors to add more classes for programming and computer security to their curriculum. Warner hopes that such programs will get students passionate about technology and cyber crime and perhaps even continue their education at UAB.
“Many bright students in local schools are unaware that one of the top schools for cybercrime investigations in the entire nation is right in their backyard,” Warner said.
Warner said that the opportunity to do real cybersecurity work gave the students a sense of accomplishment, and hoped the program will teach students that they can use their technology skills to make a difference right now, as well as renew their passion for technology when they return to their schools.
“We wanted to give students a success story that started to put a purpose to their technology training,” Warner said. “ Now they aren’t just learning to program to get a grade in a class. Now they are learning to program because they may be able to help catch a criminal, stop a terrorist, or prevent a major malware campaign.”
The registration deadline for this year's camp has passed, but Warner said that there are still a few spots open for the July 18-22 session and interested high school students are encouraged to enroll. They also hope to host the program again next summer.
Students that might be interested in participating can find details and the registration form at: www.uab.edu/cas/justice-sciences/cyber-detectives-camp/2016-activities
