As the rapid advancement of technology and global interconnectivity continues, cyber threats simultaneously evolve and become increasingly prevalent. It is evident that there is an ever-growing need for professionals equipped with the skills to recognize and address the technical, criminal and social aspects of cybercrime.
An Evolving Field
Hedi Nasheri, Ph.D., professor of criminology and coordinator of the Cybercriminology degree at Kent State University, has long been addressing issues related to global security in her teaching and research. Nasheri began her journey into the field of cybercriminology as an extension of her research during her days in graduate school. Her research focused on the theft of proprietary information and protection of intellectual property and corporate assets.
Nasheri said she became interested in this subject matter during President Clinton’s administration which made the theft of propriety information a federal crime with the adoption of the Economic Espionage Act of 1996. At the time, Nasheri understood the importance of protecting intellectual property rights, particularly for the United States, the world’s number one innovator and producer of products in many industries. She also recognized how the protection of intellectual property rights contributed to global stability and economic security.
“Intellectual property forms the backbone for economic security and economic security provides national security,” Nasheri said. “Security of the United States will translate into security for our allies and international partners.”
According to Nasheri, it was uncommon for a graduate student, especially a woman, to get into a cyber field in the 90s. However, Nasheri pursued her interests and found herself at the forefront of a quickly expanding field. Due to the lack of academicians in the discipline at the time, she started working with government law enforcement agencies in the United States, United Kingdom and other European countries.
“I was working in a very, very novel field in the 90s,” Nasheri said. “Against the advice of my professors and academic mentors that I should stay away from this subject and stick to studying more traditional crimes, I did not.”
Nasheri’s work in this field led her to collaborate with international law enforcement entities such Interpol and Europol. She also worked with the U.S. Department of Justice and FBI on outreach projects providing awareness for American corporations and their international subsidiaries.
On July 7, she did an interview with Frits Bussemaker, chairman of the Institute for Accountability in the Digital Age, where she discussed her article "The Dumb and the Dangerous Road Ahead." Nasheri discussed the need for a uniform definition of certain aspects of work and the challenges of keeping legal and regulatory frameworks in sync with rapidly advancing digital technology. She emphasized the importance of understanding and utilizing technology effectively, and the potential dangers of technology in the wrong hands. She also highlighted the growing reliance on technology and artificial intelligence, the potential risks associated with them and the need for collaboration and information sharing to mitigate potential issues.
In February, she was invited to speak at Ghent University, in Belgium, to high level government officials and representatives of Microsoft on the topic of cybercrime and cyberwarfare. The workshop delved into the complex and evolving landscape where criminal activities may share striking similarities with state-sponsored hacking campaigns, blurring the distinction between cybercriminals and cyberwarriors.
Spectrum of Threats
Over the course of several decades, the landscape of cybercriminology has changed immensely. While society is still grappling with issues of cybersecurity and cybercrime, emerging technologies have added another layer of complexity to preexisting threats.
“Today, when we talk about intelligence, national security, terrorism, bioweapons, biosecurity and the whole realm of security, we are really talking about emerging technologies, like artificial intelligence, robotics and quantum computing,” Nasheri said.
Given the scope of these intertwined issues and the effect of emerging technologies, Nasheri recognized the importance of approaching the topic of cybercriminology from a holistic, interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary perspective. The Cybercriminology degree at Kent State is designed to reflect this approach, providing students with a “30,000-foot perspective” of the subject.
“In our [new Spring 2025] foundational course, Crime and Technology, I want our students, right from the start, to have a full understanding of the pressing issues that the world is encountering and how these technologies fit into our daily lives,” Nasheri said.
Students in the Cybercriminology degree will take courses in information technology, computer science, sociology and criminology. They will be exposed to the technical, forensic, investigative, policy, regulation and governance aspects of cybercrime.
From government to private sectors, from retail to fashion, and from trucking to finance, Nasheri believes the skills that students attain from the cybercriminology courses will be applicable to every industry and career they could choose to go into.
“We will build on your interest no matter what you want to do in the future, whether your major is cybercriminology, chemistry, physics, biology, business, information technology or mathematics,” Nasheri said. “You are entering the workforce equipped with essential skills and knowledge, as cyber is a component of all jobs today.”
Building a Brighter Future
As a mentor of the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program and year-round research enhancement advisor for undergraduate students at Kent State, Nasheri puts her philosophy into practice. She works with a group of students who have expressed an interest in the area of emerging technologies within their field of study at Kent State.
“I have a student who’s a biology and criminology major, psychology major, another criminology major, and one who’s undecided as a freshman international student, but all of them are focusing exactly on their specific field in the context of evolving emerging technologies,” she said. “My student who’s a biology major is currently working with me on a project that focuses on synthetic biology and how it can be used to develop a bioweapon, and her goal is to eventually work for the Department of Defense.”
Nasheri strongly believes that students in her courses have the ability to make a difference. Students can apply their knowledge from the cybercriminology degree to work for public, private or nonprofit organizations that address ethical and regulatory concerns, such as data privacy, algorithmic bias and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
“We have to think about the well-being of society, our communities, our population and have a future foresight,” Nasheri said. “We cannot be shortsighted when entering the workforce because government agencies, for example, have an abundance of opportunities for students with a cybercriminology degree, even though the corporate sector may seem more lucrative.”
The cybercriminology degree, as well as the upcoming Spring 2025 course, Crime and Technology, are offered completely online. Crime and Technology will be accessible to students from any major university-wide, and Nasheri believes it will be beneficial for any student to take regardless of their field.
“I think they’ll find it very fascinating whether they want to go into cybercriminology or not,” Nasheri said. “There aren’t any fields of study at our university or any other university that do not have a cyber component.”
Nasheri’s most recent book, “Emerging Technologies, Novel Crimes and Security: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” addresses the multidisciplinary nature of this topic. She is also currently working on an article for the European Commission about the level of preparedness of law enforcement globally for novel technological crimes.