As the instances of cybercrime grow, so too do the need for the professionals to combat it. Key to protecting both individuals and organisations from damaging cyber attacks is the ability to understand the risks, how to prevent them and the behaviour that drives these crimes.  

Cybercrimes can target individuals, groups and companies, exploiting human or security weaknesses in digital information and systems to steal data, money or passwords.

Studying cybercrime requires an understanding of the behaviour of victims and perpetrators, as well as public and private responses, bringing together various disciplines, such as data science, criminology, psychology and forensics. 

To help you learn more about this fascinating subject, we’ve pulled together a list of some of the international resources available to expand your knowledge. 

The University of Portsmouth's Cybercrime Awareness Clinic 

One of the major advantages of studying our MSc Cybercrime is the opportunity to engage with specialists from our award-winning Cybercrime Awareness Clinic. It was originally established in 2017 as a two-year research to deliver a range of tailored cybercrime awareness sessions to local community groups, organisations and educational establishments.

Winning the Cyber Awareness category of the National Cyber Awards 2020, it has since expanded and set up clinics across the country with support from the National Cyber Security Centre. Its website lists various advice for specific groups and information about ongoing research being conducted. 

Centre for Crime and Justice Studies 

While its remit is much broader than cybercrime, the UK-based Centre for Crime and Justice Studies posts regular updates on current policy developments, critical analysis and research covering all aspects of criminology, forensic science and policing. It also publishes the British Journal of Criminology (BJC), one of the world's top criminology journals. 

Cybercrime magazine 

Cybersecurity Ventures claims to be the world’s leading researcher for the global cyber economy. While somewhat tech-focused, its Cybercrime magazine publishes annual and quarterly reports covering global cybercrime and cyberwarfare.  

Cybercrime portal 

Established as part of South Africa’s Internet Safety Campaign, this Cybercrime awareness portal provides an extensive list of local and international resources and research for computer and internet users and professionals worldwide. This includes a link to news alerts from Interpol, which regularly focus on cyber attacks.  

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) 

The FBI’s Cyber Crime Division collects and shares intelligence in addition to its work to stop those committing malicious cyber activities, publishing a range of guidance on its website. It also leads the National Cyber Investigative Joint Task Force (NCIJTF), which produces research published via the Internet Crime Complaint Center IC3. This includes helpful industry alerts and links to broader resources, such as the US Department of Justice Lawful Access initiative. 

International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) 

With over 32,000 members in 170 different countries, IACP is the biggest, most prominent professional association for police leaders. Its Law Enforcement Cyber Center (LECC) provides research and resources to police chiefs, sheriffs, commanders, patrol officers, digital forensic investigators, detectives, and prosecutors who are investigating and preventing crimes that involve technology. 

International Association of Crime Analysts (IACA) 

Supporting a membership of around 5,000 crime analysts, intelligence analysts, police officers of all ranks, educators, and students from more than 70 nations, IACA was formed in 1990 to help those working or interested in law enforcement make the best use of crime analysis.

It runs a series of broad-based webinars, hosting a five-day annual conference held in the US and a two-day international symposium, which has previously been held in Canada, Germany and the Netherlands. Events cover all aspects of crime vulnerability and analysis. 

International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) 

Describing itself as the world’s largest and most comprehensive global information privacy community, IAPP is resource for professionals who help organisations manage risks and protect their data. Its resources section includes various reports, surveys and white papers, as well as a helpful section on privacy information by country/region. Regular conferences include the Global Privacy Summit and Europe Data Protection Congress. 

International Conference on Cyber Investigation and Criminology (ICCIC) 

The annual ICCIC aims to bring together leading academic scientists, researchers and research scholars to exchange and share their experiences and research results on all aspects of cybercrime. It provides virtual and in-person forums to discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns as well as practical challenges encountered and solutions adopted. 

International Journal of Cyber Criminology 

Published twice a year, the International Journal of Cyber Criminology is targeted at researchers from various disciplines, including criminology, victimology, sociology, computer science and internet science. 

National Cyber Security Centre 

The mission of the London-based National Cyber Security Centre is to help to make the UK the safest place to live and work online. As well as incident response and a corporate certification scheme run in association with the IASME Consortium, it provides an extensive range of practical guidance, which is available online, and a dedicated Cyber Aware initiative for consumers and individuals.  

Psychology Today 

With is focus on psychology and human behaviour, Psychology Today features online blogs and guidance on a range of contemporary topics, including cyber crime. For example, one article, The Cyber Security Head Game, published in September 2022, explains how winning cyber wars means beating your adversary’s mind, not their technology. 

Could you help improve the way we prevent and respond to cybercrimes? Discover the University of Portsmouth’s online MSc Cyber Security and Digital Forensics.