The Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) from the West Midlands Police visited our Y13 IT students to deliver an engaging workshop about cybercrime. Officers explained that cybercrime is currently the largest reported crime type and outlined key facts on this criminal activity.
Students learnt how cyber criminals operate; from social engineering and phishing to malware and exploiting weak access controls. The officers emphasised that attackers often choose whichever asset (data, money or products) is easiest to reach or most valuable to them.
Students worked in teams to design their own cybersecurity systems, deciding which barriers to put in place to prevent attacks. It was great to see the enthusiasm amongst the students as they put their classroom knowledge into action. The workshop also included a simulated investigation where students used real world style clues and forensic reasoning to identify entry points and recommend next investigative steps. Students found this practical task really exciting, especially as they could see their names on the leaderboard. The teams were being timed, which gave the task some friendly competition and added pressure. Dramatic music was also added for effect. It was a great activity to help the students deepen their understanding of how attackers use personal information to hack into systems.
The session was delivered extremely well and provided pupils with a realistic insight into cybercrime and mitigation strategies. Mrs Bostock, who organised the event said ‘opportunities like this are invaluable. The visit reinforced what they learnt in the classroom, clarified career pathways in cyber security and left students better prepared to think critically about cybercrime in time for their January exams.’
To find out more about the IT curriculum, click here.
