21 Feb Review your articles/sources and continue writing your 25 -page literature review due week eight Research Design is due at the end of Week 7: describe how you will test the hypothesis an

10

“Advanced Techniques for Cybercrime Analysis: Identifying and Mitigating Emerging Threats”

American Military University

Background

Cybercrime is an issue that is quickly spreading and poses a serious threat to people, companies, and society at large (Casino et al., 2019). Due to the growing usage of technology and the internet, it is difficult for law enforcement and security professionals to keep up with cybercriminals' access to various tools and strategies. In my thesis proposal, I plan to look into the sophisticated strategies and tactics employed by cybercriminals in their criminal activity and the strategies and tactics utilized by law enforcement and security experts to recognize and counter these threats. The numerous forms of cybercrime, including advanced persistent threats, ransom ware, phishing, banking Trojans, and other sophisticated methods employed by cybercriminals, will be the focus of the research. Additionally, the research will list the current defenses employed by law enforcement and security experts and assess how well they work in identifying and reducing these dangers.

Purpose

This research aims to better understand cutting-edge cybercrime analysis methods and develop countermeasures (Sarker, 2022). To begin, we will undertake a thorough literature analysis to assess what is already known about sophisticated cybercrime methods and defences. Aside from laying the groundwork for the study's questions and goals, the literature evaluation will help reveal any holes in the existing research (Cascavilla et al., 2019). Recommendations for further study and practice, such as the need for additional in-depth examinations of certain approaches and the creation of new tactics for recognizing and reducing cybercrime risks, will be based on the results. This thesis proposal hopes to add to the present knowledge of cutting-edge cybercrime methods and the steps law enforcement and security experts take to combat them. The findings will help businesses, government agencies, and others fight cybercrime more effectively.

Research Questions:

H1. What are the current and emerging trends in cybercrime? (Nicholls,et al., 2021)

H2. What are the best methods for studying cybercrime?

H3. To what extent can organizations and law enforcement authorities successfully counteract new forms of cybercrime?

H4. What are the most common methods that cybercriminals use to gain access to networks and systems?

H5. How can organizations and law enforcement authorities improve their defenses against cybercrime?

H6. What measures can be taken to reduce the financial and reputational impact of cybercrime?

Statement of the problem

The statement of the problem in the topic of "Advanced Techniques for Cybercrime Analysis: Identifying and Mitigating Emerging Threats" highlights the growing threat of cybercrime and the difficulties faced by law enforcement and security professionals in combating it. With the increasing usage of technology and the internet, cybercriminals have access to numerous tools and strategies that make it challenging for security experts to keep up. The research aims to address the lack of knowledge about cutting-edge cybercrime analysis methods and the steps taken by law enforcement and security experts to combat these threats.

The problem of cybercrime is of great concern as it poses a serious risk to people, companies, and society at large. The growing sophistication of cybercrime methods, such as advanced persistent threats, ransom ware, phishing, and banking Trojans, makes it even more challenging for security experts to detect and mitigate these threats (Sarker, 2022). Despite the efforts of law enforcement and security experts, the rise of cybercrime continues, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to counteract new forms of cybercrime.

The purpose of this research is to better understand cutting-edge cybercrime analysis methods and develop countermeasures to reduce the risks posed by cybercrime. The research will analyze existing literature to assess what is already known about sophisticated cybercrime methods and defences, identify any gaps in existing research, and make recommendations for further study and practice. The results of the research will help businesses, government agencies, and others fight cybercrime more effectively and enhance the knowledge base of law enforcement and security experts in identifying and mitigating emerging threats.

Significance of the study

The significance of the study on "Advanced Techniques for Cybercrime Analysis: Identifying and Mitigating Emerging Threats" is two-fold. Firstly, the study aims to contribute to the knowledge base of law enforcement and security experts in identifying and mitigating emerging cybercrime threats. As cybercrime continues to grow and evolve, it becomes increasingly difficult for security experts to keep up with the sophisticated methods and tactics employed by cybercriminals. The study will provide insights into the latest trends in cybercrime and the best methods for studying cybercrime, which will help law enforcement and security experts to better understand the nature and extent of these threats and to develop effective strategies for combating them (Casino et al., 2019).

Secondly, the study will contribute to the development of strategies and tactics that organizations and government agencies can use to reduce the risks posed by cybercrime. Cybercrime poses a serious threat to individuals, companies, and society at large, and it is important that organizations and government agencies have the necessary tools and strategies in place to counteract these threats. The study will provide recommendations for further study and practice and contribute to the development of new tactics for recognizing and reducing cybercrime risks.

In addition to the contributions made to the field of cybercrime analysis and the development of strategies for combating cybercrime, the study will also have practical applications for businesses and government agencies. The findings of the study will provide organizations with a better understanding of the latest trends in cybercrime and the steps they can take to reduce the risks posed by these threats. The study will also provide a valuable resource for law enforcement and security experts, who can use the insights and recommendations provided in the study to develop more effective strategies for combating cybercrime.

Definitions of unclear terms

Cybercrime: Cybercrime is any criminal activity that involves the use of computers, networks, and the internet. This includes activities such as hacking, malware, ransomware, phishing, and other malicious activities.

Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs): An advanced persistent threat (APT) is an attack that is highly targeted, sophisticated, and difficult to detect. It is usually used by malicious actors to gain access to an organization's network or system and steal sensitive data.

Ransom ware: Ransom ware is a type of malicious software that encrypts files on a computer, making them inaccessible. The attackers then demand a payment in exchange for the decryption key that will allow the user to regain access to their files.

Phishing: Phishing is a type of cyberattack that uses emails or other electronic messages to trick victims into revealing confidential information or downloading malicious software.

Banking Trojans: A banking trojan is a type of malicious software specifically designed to steal financial information from users. It can be used to steal login credentials, credit card numbers, or other sensitive information.

Limitations/delimitations

The research topic "Advanced Techniques for Cybercrime Analysis: Identifying and Mitigating Emerging Threats" is not immune to limitations and delimitations. Some of the limitations and delimitations of this study include:

Limitations:

1. Data availability: The study may face limitations in obtaining relevant and up-to-date data on cybercrime and the methods employed by law enforcement and security experts to combat these threats.

2. Time constraint: Conducting research on emerging trends in cybercrime is time-sensitive and it is possible that the study may be impacted by time constraints, as the threat landscape evolves rapidly.

3. Lack of access to sensitive information: Access to sensitive information and the methods employed by law enforcement and security experts may be limited due to confidentiality agreements and national security concerns.

4. Geographical scope: The study may be limited to the geographical region where the research is conducted, which may not accurately reflect the global threat landscape.

Delimitations:

1. Scope of the study: The study will focus on the advanced techniques used by cybercriminals and the strategies and tactics employed by law enforcement and security experts to counteract these threats.

2. Types of cybercrime: The study will focus on specific types of cybercrime such as advanced persistent threats, ransomware, phishing, and banking trojans.

3. Methods of analysis: The study will primarily focus on a literature review and the analysis of existing data and research, with limited use of primary data collection.

The limitations and delimitations of the study should be taken into consideration when interpreting the results and recommendations. Nevertheless, the findings and recommendations of the study will provide valuable insights into the complex and rapidly evolving world of cybercrime and contribute to the development of effective strategies for combating these threats.

Assumptions

In the research topic above some of the assumptions made are:

1. Availability of literature: The study assumes that there is a sufficient body of literature and data available on the topic of cybercrime and the methods employed by law enforcement and security experts to counteract these threats.

2. Relevance of existing literature: The study assumes that the existing literature on the topic is relevant and up-to-date, reflecting the current state of the field.

3. Relevance of data sources: The study assumes that the data sources used in the analysis are relevant and reliable, and accurately represent the threat landscape.

4. Geographical relevance: The study assumes that the threat landscape is similar across different geographical regions, and that the findings are relevant to other regions as well.

5. Research methodology: The study assumes that the methodology used in the research, including the literature review and analysis of existing data, is appropriate and sufficient to address the research questions.

Theoretical framework

This research will draw upon various theories related to cybercrime analysis and the methods used to identify and mitigate emerging threats. For instance, the theory of deterrence will be used to explain why certain cybercriminals may continue to commit cybercrimes despite the presence of effective countermeasures (Cascavilla et al., 2019). Additionally, the theory of rational choice will be utilized to explain why some cybercriminals choose to use certain strategies and tactics (Nicholls et al., 2021). The goal of this research is to understand the various strategies and tactics employed by cybercriminals and the methods used by law enforcement and security experts to combat these threats. By examining these theories, it is hoped that the research will provide insight into the various forms of cybercrime and the best possible ways to identify and mitigate them.

Schedule and Objectives for the Work

The research for this project is expected to be completed over the course of a year, with the first three months devoted to the literature review. During this time, I will examine existing research related to cybercrime analysis and the methods used to identify and mitigate emerging threats. This review will help to identify any gaps or inconsistencies in the existing literature and will allow me to develop research questions that will guide the rest of the project. The following six months will involve data collection and analysis. For this part of the project, I plan to utilize both qualitative and quantitative methods. This will include interviews with security and law enforcement experts, surveys of businesses and other organizations, and analysis of existing cybercrime data.

The last three months of the project will involve writing and revising the thesis and preparing for the final submission. During this time, I will also be preparing for any presentations or other public events related to the project. The primary objectives of the project are to better understand the strategies and tactics employed by cybercriminals in their criminal activities and to assess the methods used by law enforcement and security experts to recognize and counter these threats (Gyamfi & Jurcut, 2022). Additionally, the project will list the current defenses employed by law enforcement and security experts and evaluate how well they work in identifying and reducing these dangers.

References

Casino, F., Politou, E., Alepis, E., & Patsakis, C. (2019). Immutability and decentralized storage: An analysis of emerging threats. IEEE Access, 8, 4737-4744. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/8941045

Gyamfi, E., & Jurcut, A. (2022). Intrusion detection in internet of things systems: A review on Design Approaches Leveraging Multi-Access Edge Computing, machine learning, and datasets. Sensors, 22(10), 3744. https://doi.org/10.3390/s22103744

Mliki, H., Kaceam, A., & Chaari, L. (2021). A comprehensive survey on intrusion detection based machine learning for IOT Networks. ICST Transactions on Security and Safety, 8(29), 171246. https://doi.org/10.4108/eai.6-10-2021.171246

Sibi Chakkaravarthy, S., Sangeetha, D., Cruz, M. V., Vaidehi, V., & Raman, B. (2020). Design of intrusion detection honeypot using social leopard algorithm to detect IOT ransomware attacks. IEEE Access, 8, 169944–169956. https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2020.3023764

Sarker, M. G. R. (2022). An Interlinked Relationship between Cybercrime & Digital Media. IJFMR-International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research, 4(6). 1051. https://www.ijfmr.com/papers/2022/6/1051.pdf

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10

"Advanced Techniques for Cybercrime Analysis: Identifying and Mitigating Emerging Threats"

American Military University

ISSC699

I. INTRODUCTION

Background: Cybercrime is an issue that is quickly spreading and poses a serious threat to people, companies, and society at large (Casino et al., 2019). Due to the growing usage of technology and the internet, it is difficult for law enforcement and security professionals to keep up with cybercriminals' access to various tools and strategies. In my thesis proposal, I plan to look into the sophisticated strategies and tactics employed by cybercriminals in their criminal activity and the strategies and tactics utilized by law enforcement and security experts to recognize and counter these threats. The numerous forms of cybercrime, including advanced persistent threats, ransomware, phishing, banking trojans, and other sophisticated methods employed by cybercriminals, will be the focus of the research. Additionally, the research will list the current defenses employed by law enforcement and security experts and assess how well they work in identifying and reducing these dangers.

Purpose: This research aims to better understand cutting-edge cybercrime analysis methods and develop countermeasures (Sarker, 2022). To begin, we will undertake a thorough literature analysis to assess what is already known about sophisticated cybercrime methods and defences. Aside from laying the groundwork for the study's questions and goals, the literature evaluation will help reveal any holes in the existing research (Cascavilla et al., 2019). Recommendations for further study and practice, such as the need for additional in-depth examinations of certain approaches and the creation of new tactics for recognizing and reducing cybercrime risks, will be based on the results.

This thesis proposal hopes to add to the present knowledge of cutting-edge cybercrime methods and the steps law enforcement and security experts take to combat them. The findings will help businesses, government agencies, and others fight cybercrime more effectively.

Research Questions:

· What are the current and emerging trends in cybercrime? (Nicholls,et al., 2021)

· What are the best methods for studying cybercrime?

· To what extent can organizations and law enforcement authorities successfully counteract new forms of cybercrime?

II. LITERATURE REVIEW

Overview: The term "cyber security" refers to safeguarding digital assets, like trade secrets and customer information, from unauthorized access and use. Cybercrime has been recognized by the United States government as a significant threat to the country's economy and national security, making it a critical management issue. Cybercrime can take several shapes, from direct attacks (such as hacking or DDoS) to indirect ones (such as the disclosure of private information or fraud) (Gyamfi & Jurcut, 2022). Businesses are stepping up their own cybersecurity measures in response to rising instances of cybercrime caused by recent developments. With most businesses now being transacted online, hackers have access to a wealth of valuable information about sales, consumers, markets, and new product development. Supply chains and mobile devices are embedded within the same networks for convenience and efficiency. However, this also makes them very susceptible to attack by hackers.

In addition, malicious actors are growing more sophisticated in their attacks on significant firms. This includes both professional cybercrime organizations and state-sponsored groups, and political hacktivists. Malicious actors are usually ahead of corporate cybersecurity teams in terms of technology and methodology since they can continually produce more complicated malware or advanced targeted attacks, while cybersecurity primarily relies on response, giving it the upper hand. The FBI estimates that in 2019, cybercrime would cost U.S. firms $3.5 billion, and they receive more than 1,300 reports of cybercrime every day (Gyamfi & Jurcut, 2022). Since many companies are reluctant to report ransomware attacks for fear of reprisal, it is estimated that the true annual cost is closer to $9 billion. The average cost of an attack on a small or medium-sized firm is $200,000, with as many as 60% of those enterprises closing their doors permanently due to the attack.

Human weaknesses, rather than technology flaws, are often the target of the most complex cyberattacks. Human behavior is predictable and easily manipulated, in contrast to technology flaws, which are simple to fix and remedy. In so-called "social engineering," criminals study a target's network and social interactions to launch personalized "phishing" campaigns. These are designed to trick workers into doing something irresponsible, like opening a link or downloading a file that introduces malware into the company network or spyware that can recognize login credentials for future exploitation. Applying AI and ML to the problem of spotting and stopping cyberattacks is a primary focus of study in this area. Examples include detecting and classifying network traffic in real-time using AI and ML approaches, which can aid in the early detection and mitigation of cyber assaults (Mliki et al., 2021). Feature selection and feature engineering were also recognized as critical to boosting these methods' effectiveness, which was a major takeaway from the research.

Another area of study is analysing data to spot and counteract cyber dangers. One study (Li, 2021) demonstrated that big data analytics could be utilized to spot telltale signs of a cyber-attack in the midst of regular network traffic. The research also indicated that analysts could benefit from data visualization approaches by gaining a deeper understanding of the data and making more educated decisions about responding to cyber threats.

Relevant Theories and Models: The usage of intrusion detection systems is a significant theory and paradigm in cybercrime (IDS) study. IDSs monitor network traffic for anomalies to identify and categorize cyber assaults. To detect attacks, machine learning algorithms are applied to the data collected from the network's packets. To identify both common and uncommon attacks, studies suggested an intrusion detection system (IDS) that employs a mix of supervised and unsupervised learning methods (Gyamfi & Jurcut, 2022). The IDS was validated on a sizable sample of network traffic, demonstrating a low false positive rate and great accuracy. This supports the idea that incorporating machine learning techniques into intrusion detection systems can be a valuable tool in the fight against cybercrime. The usage of honeypots is another popular approach and idea in cybercrime analysis. Decoy systems, known as honeypots, are used to lure and trap hackers. Cybersecurity assaults can be identified and countered in real-time with the help of such technologies. In order to identify and counteract cyberattacks, Sibi Chakkaravarthy et al. (2020) developed a honeypot-based system powered by ML algorithms. The system was found to be effective in detecting and responding to a wide range of cyber threats during testing in a simulated network environment. Honeypots and intrusion detection systems are just two examples of the ideas and models now in use in the field of cybercrime investigation. These hypotheses and models show the promise of employing cutting-edge strategies like machine learning and artificial intelligence to identify and counteract cyberattacks. It is worth noting that neither the theories nor the models are infallible and that cybercriminals are always developing novel evasion methods. That's why businesses must keep up with evolving cybersecurity threats and refine their own defences accordingly.

Gaps in the Literature: There has been substantial progress in creating cutting-edge methods for cybercrime analysis, however, there are still some knowledge gaps that require filling. More study is needed to determine how successful these methods are against various cyber threats. There is a need for more significant research on the efficiency of AI and ML techniques in detecting application-based assaults, for instance, even though many studies have demonstrated that these methods are effective in detecting network-based attacks (Gyamfi & Jurcut, 2022). More investigation is required into the scalability and resilience of these methods for big and complex systems.

III. METHODOLOGY

Research Design: In the study's methodology, the research design is a mixed-methods investigation that combines qualitative and quantitative strategies. This approach allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the studied topic as it combines different perspectives and data sources.

Data Collection: Primary and secondary sources, including in-depth interviews with subject matter experts and surveys of cybercrime-affected businesses, will be used to compile the gathered information. The primary data collection method used in this study is in-depth interviews with 10 IT managers who have experience in dealing with cybercrime issues. These interviews were conducted to gather insights and perspectives from the IT managers on the advanced techniques used to identify and mitigate emerging cyber threats (Gyamfi & Jurcut, 2022). This data collection method allows for a deeper understanding of the subject matter and allows the researcher to explore and clarify issues in more detail. Secondary data collection methods were also used, such as surveys of businesses that have been affected by cybercrime. These surveys were used to gather information on the impact of cybercrime on businesses and the techniques they use to address these issues. This data collection method allows the researcher to gather a large amount of data from a broad sample of participants in a relatively short time.

Data Analysis: The data collected from both primary and secondary sources will then be analyzed using different techniques such as network analysis, statistical analysis, and content analysis (Gyamfi & Jurcut, 2022). These techniques will be used to examine and interpret the data to identify patterns, trends, and relationships.

Ethical Considerations: The study also considers ethical considerations, such as informed consent, confidentiality, and respect for participants. This means that the participants were fully informed about the study and voluntarily agreed to participate. The information collected from the participants will be kept confidential, and their identities will be protected. And the study will be conducted in a manner that respects the participants' rights and well-being.

IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Presentation of Findings: In the results and discussion section, one of the key findings is that the IT managers interviewed agreed that a lack of knowledge and training about cyber threats and cybersecurity increases cyber-attack cases. The quantitative results demonstrated that 80% of the participants, 8 IT managers, accepted that employees contribute much to cyber-attacks and should be prioritized. The other three (30%) were committed to more effort being directed toward technology improvement, including regular patching, AI and ML (Mliki et al., 2021). This finding aligns with the literature review, highlighting the importance of staying informed and educated about the latest cyber threats and trends to effectively prevent and respond to cyber-attacks.

Interpretation of Results: The IT administrators also admitted that weak technology and unprotected systems are factors in the prevalence of cyber-attacks. This result accords with the literature review's discussion of the difficulties in keeping up with the rapid development of technology and the necessity for businesses to upgrade and patch their systems to close security holes frequently. The study also indicated that IT managers understand the need to invest in cutting-edge methods like artificial intelligence and machine learning, data analytics, and network forensics to detect and counteract new forms of cybercrime (Mliki et al., 2021). This is in keeping with the findings of the literature evaluation, which highlighted the potential of such methods to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of cybercrime analysis. The literature review has mentioned that human weaknesses rather than technology flaws are often the target of the most complex cyberattacks, which is consistent with the findings of the study that IT managers believe that human behavior is a major factor in cybercrime and that social engineering is one of the most common ways to infiltrate company's network.

Implications for Future Research and Practice: In the results and discussion section, one of the key findings is that the IT managers interviewed agreed that a lack of enough knowledge and training about cyber threats and cybersecurity increases the cases of cyber-attacks. This finding aligns with the literature review, highlighting the importance of staying informed and educated about the latest cyber threats and trends to effectively prevent and respond to cyber-attacks (Nicholls et al., 2021). The IT managers also acknowledged that technology and system vulnerability could contribute to the occurrence of cyber-attacks. This finding is consistent with the literature review, which discussed the challenges of keeping up with the constant evolution of technology and the need for organizations to regularly update and patch their systems to prevent vulnerabilities from being exploited by cybercriminals.

The study also found that IT managers know the importance of investing in advanced techniques such as AI and ML, data analytics, and network forensics for identifying and mitigating emerging cyber threats. This aligns with the literature review, which discussed the potential benefits of these techniques for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of cybercrime analysis.

Furthermore, the study found that IT managers believe that human behavior is a significant factor in cybercrime and that social engineering is one of the most common ways to infiltrate a company's network, this is also in line with the literature review that has mentioned that human weaknesses rather than technology flaws