Research Tuesdays - Identifying cyber threats

Your online accounts have passwords and privacy settings, so your information is safe, right? Well, maybe not. Accessing personal details has become easier than ever because of digital innovations such as web scrapers, automated tools used for cyber data collection.

The information gathered by web scrapers is used for a range of purposes such as law enforcement, journalism, academia, national intelligence, and marketing. On one hand, easy access to high-quality data can be beneficial for legitimate endeavors. On the other hand, regardless of the data collection’s intent, it raises profound ethical questions and legal risks.

Researchers from the University of Adelaide are working to demystify cyber data mining. They’re exploring its legal limitations, ethical implications, threat levels and potential upsides to address crucial quandries: how cyber data collection is being used, and how your online information may be targeted.

Join us in June to learn how cyber data collection can affect you.

The presenters

Dr Russell Brewer is an Associate Professor of Criminology at the University of Adelaide. He has a PhD from the Australian National University. His research interests include cybercrime, youth delinquency, crime prevention and policing. He has published his research findings through several leading publication outlets, holds multiple nationally competitive grants, and has been called upon by Government Agencies both domestically and abroad to advise on policy.

Dr Katie Logos is a Lecturer of Criminology at the University of Adelaide. She has a PhD in Psychology from Flinders University. Katie has led and contributed to various grant funded projects, with her research intersecting two key areas. The first focuses on understanding factors underpinning criminal involvement for young people and individuals on the autism spectrum. The second examines the growing problem of child sexual abuse online and the development of techniques to prevent and reduce the victimisation of children.

Dr Colette Langos is a Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Adelaide. She is an internationally recognised expert in the area of misuse of technology and the law with particular expertise in cyberbullying/sexting and the legal regulation thereof. Colette has published extensively on the definition, impact and the legal regulation of negative online behaviours. She has consulted for government departments and is cited numerous times in federal parliament and the South Australian Supreme Court in regard to law reform in this area.