Digital Forensics and Cyber Security Center News

Second Annual URI Cyber Security Symposium

The DFCSC hosted the second URI Cyber Security Symposium on May 2, 2012. The focus was on "Community-Based Cyber Security". The University was asked by Congressman Jim Langevin to host this symposium as part of an effort to raise awareness of the need to counter cyber threats and improve the safety of cyber networks in Rhode Island and around the globe. The Congressman has been a leader in the effort to highlight the importance of this issue and the University of Rhode Island has been actively involved in working to help secure the information infrastructures used by government, private companies, nonprofits and academia. The symposium took place on Wednesday, May 2nd at the Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences Building at URI. The day started at 10:00 a.m. with opening remarks from Congressman Langevin, URI’s President David M. Dooley and Dr. Peter Alphonso, Vice President of Research and Economic Development at URI. The keynote address was from Lieutenant General Michael T. Flynn, Assistant Director of National Intelligence, Partner Engagement, Office of the Director of National Intelligence. He is a 1981 graduate of the university and has been slated for reassignment as the next director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. There will be plenty of question and answer opportunities throughout the day. URI doctoral candidates will discuss their research during the panel discussions and graduate and undergraduate students will present cybersecurity posters. [Read More]

DFCSC Announced as National Center of Academic Excellence

The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have jointly announced the designation of the University of Rhode Island as a National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAE/IAE) for the years 2012 through 2017. By obtaining this designation, the Digital Forensics and Cyber Security center is recognized as leaders in information assurance and cybersecurity. Graduates of the program often develop into cyber experts who help to protect national-security information systems, commercial networks, and critical information infrastructure in both the private and public sectors – meeting the increasingly urgent needs of the U.S. government, industry, and academia. [Read More]

Dr. Fay-Wolfe on the Rhode Show

On April 24, 2012, Dr. Fay-Wolfe appeared on the Rhode Show to discuss the Digital Forensics and Cyber Security Center and their upcoming Cybersecurity Symposium. The symposium will take place on Wednesday, May 2nd at the Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences Building at URI. The day starts at 10:00 a.m. with opening remarks from Congressman Langevin, URI’s President David M. Dooley and Dr. Peter Alphonso, Vice President of Research and Economic Development at URI. [Read More]

DFCSC Attending and Presenting at 2012 Bryant Security Day

DFCSC Staff Member, Vic Fay-Wolfe, will be presenting at the 2012 Bryant Security Day on May 25th in Smithfield, RI. Dr. Fay-Wolfe's presentation will be understanding what digital evidence is, where digital evidence can be found, and the importance of digital forensics evidence in investigations today. The concepts will be illustrated from cases that the RI Digital Forensics Center has worked. The DFCSC will also have a table set up that can provide additional information about our services and various academic programs. [Read More]

DFCSC Members Present at GRRL Tech

The GRRL Tech Expo is an interactive technology expo offering about 500 female high school students the chance to engage in a variety of technology-related fields. On March 15, 2012, GRRL Tech was hosted at URI and DFCSC staff members ran seminars on digital forensics and introducing computer programming with Alice. The students in the digital forensics presentation learned how to trace an email, use steganography to hide a message and crack a password. Students in the computer programming seminar used Alice to program a video of an ice skater doing tricks. The students were also informed about schooling and career options with each field to hopefully spark their interest in a male-dominate environment. [Read More]

DFCSC Member Attended Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Training

DFCSC Staff Member, Jacob Fonseca, attended the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Training in Framingham, MA from February 28th-March 1st, 2012. The training consisted of two courses, Essentials of Community Cyber Security and the EOC’s Role in Community Cyber Security. Essentials of Community Cyber Security provided attendees with information on how cyber attacks, cyber threats and vulnerabilities can impact, prevent, and/or stop emergency responses in a community. The EOC’s Role in Community Cyber Security course discovered the roles and responsibilities needed to detect, prevent, and respond to a cyber security incident. Using past cyber events, the participants explored how the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and community would plan for and manage information and resources needed for a cyber event.

DFCSC to teach Computer Forensic Investigation Training

Kristen McCooey, of the DFCSC, will be co-instructing the Computer Forensics Investigation Course in Atlanta, GA on March 20th and 21st. This course is offered free to State and Local Law Enforcement and instructs them on advanced techniques to analyze digital media. [Read More]

DFCSC Member Attended 2012 Cyber Disruption Summit

DFCSC Staff Member, Jacob Fonseca, attended the 2012 Cyber Disruption Summit held at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center on February 21st and 22nd, 2012. This event was hosted by the New England Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Initiative (NERCPI). At the summit, the public safety, network infrastructure, emergency management and information security communities discussed planning for and responding to a large-scale cyber disruption. [Read More]

New Courses in Cyber Security

Starting in Spring of 2012 the DFCSC will be offering undergraduate courses and a minor in Cyber Security. Starting in Summer of 2013 these courses will also be offered at the graduate level along with new certificate programs in Cyber Security. [Read More]

DFCSC Attends 2012 DoD Cyber Crimes Conference

Members of the DFCSC attended the 2012 DoD Cyber Crimes Conference. While there, they also presented their work on the ECTCoE.net website and their current research on Cell Phone Investigations. [Read More]