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Basic Computer Forensics Skills For EU Legal Practitioners

  • Practice-Oriented Training Courses To Meet The Challenges Of New Technologies

Computer Forensics Skills (2019-2020)


About the project

There is today a dire need for an adequate level of computer literacy among EU judges, prosecutors and defence lawyers. As computer forensics becomes increasingly commonplace in criminal trials, legal professionals must be familiar with its challenges. There is little doubt that almost all criminal courts are confronted with the question whether data which was forensically extracted from digital devices and is presented in criminal proceedings is admissible or not. Challenges governing the admissibility of electronic evidence vary in the legal framework of different Member States and are continuously challenged by the evolution of technological devices. An example of the types of digital devices encountered by a digital forensic practitioner include the following: computers, storage devices, compact discs, removable data storage drives (USB thumb drives), memory cards, mobile (smart) phones, digital cameras, satellite navigation and wearable technology (smart watches and e-bracelets).

Participants in the training will be familiarised with the basic skills, challenges and difficulties of computer forensics and internet (open) source intelligence data. They will be provided with the basic understanding of the internet architecture and concepts (Internet Protocol, anonymity online, encryption, internet cache, etc.). The seminars will offer an insight into different national EU criminal legal systems which already experienced internet searches such as social media investigations. Last but not least, networking opportunities will be facilitated and cooperation among EU legal practitioners will be encouraged.

Objectives

The main objective of the project is to train EU legal practitioners (judges, prosecutors, lawyers in private practice) on the basics of computer forensics and to enable them to gain an overview of the complex challenges related to all those criminal cases with tech/internet components. In order to meet this objective, six seminars will be organised throughout Europe from March 2019 to September 2020.

Activities

Six practice oriented training events, duration: 1,5 day.

Modules of the course (indicative only):

Computer Forensics explained to legal practitioners + demos:
  • Definitions, concepts and misconceptions
  • The evolution of computer forensics
  • Overview of a forensic investigation
Digital evidence in the legal proceedings: fundamentals and principles + best practices
  • Definition of digital evidence
  • Preservation of evidence
  • Chain of custody
The Web, the Dark/Deep Web and sources of evidence available in online investigations:
what legal practitioners need to know + demos
  • World Wide Web (WWW) vs. the Internet
  • Understanding Internet protocols (http, https, ftp)
  • Surface search vs deep web search
  • Index vs directory searching
e-Crime – how criminals use the Internet + demos and best practices:
  • Overview and current trends
  • WiFi exposures and phishing scams
  • The dark net and hiding their identity
  • Viruses, malware & intrusions
Online investigations – websites and social media + demos and best practices:
  • Finding criminals on social media
  • Social network intelligence and monitoring tools
  • Reviewing a webpage or site that is offline
  • How really “transparent” are criminals?
  • Internet proxy servers
Legal Aspects + best practices
  • Common mistakes made by lawyers
  • Common law vs. Continental law approach
  • What should you expect from a forensic examiner?
  • The role of Law Enforcement Agencies and Internet Industry

Type and number of persons benefiting from the Project

  • 15 judges x 6 seminars = 90 judges
  • 15 prosecutors x 6 seminars = 90 prosecutors
  • 10 lawyers x 6 seminars = 60 lawyers

Expected results

To familiarise legal practitioners (who often have no technical background) with the basic skills, challenges and difficulties of computer forensics and internet (open) source intelligence data; to provide legal practitioners with the basic understanding of the internet architecture and concepts (Internet Protocol, anonymity online, encryption, internet cache, proxy servers, etc.); to facilitate networking opportunities and encourage close contacts and cooperation among legal practitioners.




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