The dark web and the internet are the place for dark business. For child pornography, drug trafficking, terrorism and cybercrime. The perpetrators infiltrate commercial enterprises, paralyze media companies or attack critical infrastructure such as energy suppliers and hospitals. With their IT attacks, the hackers extort large amounts of ransom money. These are just some of the areas in which international gangsters operate and cause billions in damage. Cybercrime is a global phenomenon that does not stop at national borders or closed doors. It can take place anywhere where people use computers, smartphones and other IT devices.
The police in North Rhine-Westphalia now want to combat criminals operating online with a training offensive. Because investigators with police knowledge and additional expertise in cybercrime are needed, the Cyber Campus NRW is offering a bachelor's curriculum for police officers from the winter semester onwards.
The first 18 police officers will then begin the "Cyber Security Management" course. They will be released from duty by 50 percent. Despite the expected additional workload, interest is enormous.
It will be another year before the study model for cybercriminals is in place. It is being developed by the Niederrhein and Bonn-Rhein-Sieg universities in collaboration with the police. Until then, the pioneers are gaining initial experience, which will probably be needed for fine-tuning later on. Training modules are currently being designed to meet police requirements. From the winter semester 2023/24, further places can then be filled by police officers. Applicants should definitely have analytical and mathematical skills.
The demand for cyber investigators is huge. In NRW, in Germany, in Europe, all over the world. The current geopolitical crisis situation poses additional dangers, as it is no secret that cyber criminals are operating from Russia in particular. But it's not just Russia that poses a threat; the perpetrators can operate from almost anywhere in the world and cover their tracks relatively well. In addition, the crime scene does not necessarily have to be identical to the place where the crime was committed.
Not only is the number of computers and smartphones affected increasing, but also the professionalism of the perpetrators. On the one hand, they continue to try to infect as many computers as possible with malware with as little effort as possible in order to steal account data and passwords, for example. On the other hand, however, there are also more and more very well-prepared cyber attacks on selected targets, where the potential damage for those affected is considerably greater.
The police in North Rhine-Westphalia are highly aware of the new threat and see additional potential in recruiting experts to combat this new form of crime. Nils Godry heads the cybercrime working group involved in the planning. "We want to make the criminal investigation department attractive again," says the officer responsible for basic criminal investigation matters at the Ministry of the Interior. "What we are putting on track here is a signal. We are setting the course for the future."
He senses a clear spirit of optimism. We need colleagues with methodological expertise who should be able to find answers to digital challenges that will only arise in a few years' time. The cyber offensive supported by the state costs financial and human resources. "But without investment, there is no return," says the 43-year-old criminal investigation director.
The police are currently working with the two Cyber Campus locations in Mönchengladbach and Sankt Augustin to find the best way to combine academic IT knowledge with the practical experience of investigators. For Prof. René Treibert from the Cyber Campus NRW, a high level of protection against data misuse and manipulation is the benchmark for a successful digitalization strategy. The scientist is head of the Institute for Information Security "Clavis" at the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences (see following interview).
"The consistent focus on application is at least as important as taking current research findings into account," emphasizes the 62-year-old university lecturer. "After all, we don't want to send police officers into research."
The course will consist of compulsory courses and specialized courses that can be chosen according to interest, reports the graduate mathematician and security engineer. It is important to never lose sight of the connection to criminal police work. "We focus on the breadth of tasks that await us there on a day-to-day basis."
Superintendent Alexander Baatz hopes to gain a lot of inspiration from his studies, which he will begin in the fall. He wants to broaden his field of vision and become familiar with innovative methods for investigating complex issues. The 31-year-old works at Münster Police Headquarters in KK34, which is responsible for cybercrime, telecommunications surveillance and information technology investigation support.
"My colleagues and I have familiarized ourselves with the subject matter and have achieved very good results," he says. "Nevertheless, we still come up against limits from time to time." He wants to overcome the barriers in the search for perpetrators as quickly as possible.
The Westphalian from Steinfurt in Münsterland was fascinated by computers and their hardware components from an early age. "I always asked myself: How does what I'm doing actually work?" At the police station, he enjoys sitting at his desk in front of the screen. "I find it really exciting when I can use IT to track down new facts." He can use his knowledge to help solve serious crimes. Other colleagues prefer to be out on the street. "It's just a matter of type."
Of course, there are sometimes discussions among colleagues about whether his partial absence due to his studies leads to additional work for others. "But I have the feeling that everyone supports it. After all, the training opens up the opportunity to arm yourself with police expertise against the increasing number of IT attacks," says Baatz.
The graduates would not be making a nice life for themselves at the Cyber Campus, but would be investing a great deal. "Of course it's a challenge. But I'm really up for it," admits the KOK. "I hope that the proceeds will benefit us all." There is a lot to discover.
No one needs to be jealous. There are no rewards or promotions associated with the course. "Of course, it is possible that later on, colleagues will stand out because of their achievements and be judged well because of their commitment," states Director of Criminal Investigation Nils Godry.
North Rhine-Westphalia has found its own way to curb IT crime. Prof. Treibert also likes it: "Cybercriminals are developing expertise that makes the CID really attractive again in the fight against cybercrime."
