Exploring cybercrime with the next generation at TecDays

For the past year, I have been a guest speaker at multiple TecDays events hosted by the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW) at numerous high schools around Switzerland. At TecDays, various tech professionals demonstrate their skills and expertise to future generations, providing insights into their fields. My colleague from Swiss Business Protection joined me for these events and shared his knowledge of cybercrime.

Cybercrime is an ever-growing threat in our increasingly connected lives. Over the past decade, its landscape has evolved to encompass new, sophisticated threats. The most common digital crimes include cyberbullying, identity theft, phishing, ransomware, and financial crime. 'Cyberbullying', for example, uses digital technology to harass, threaten, or humiliate someone. In contrast, crimes like 'identity theft' involve stealing personal information such as bank account details or social security numbers for malicious purposes. 'Phishing' is another common cybercrime through which emails are sent to steal personal information or access accounts. 'Ransomware' is a form of malware that encrypts data and demands payment in exchange for its decryption, while 'financial crime' involves the theft of money or assets through digital means.

Because of my interest in hacking, I bring gadgets or examples from work to demonstrate the power of hacking and show the students the vulnerabilities existing in our systems. One of my favorite toys, the hackrf antenna, can receive and transmit in an extensive bandwidth, ranging from 1 MHz to 6 GHz. Almost all protocols, including Bluetooth, WiFi, GSM, LTE, and NFC, can be intercepted and manipulated with this device. I also show them how easily systems can be hacked, often within a few seconds, by generating malicious files with Metasploit and sending them to the target.

The students are always impressed by the sheer power of the hackrf antenna and the fact that hacking can happen without needing to be near the target. In addition, it gives them a better understanding of how digital crime occurs and the risks of being exposed to malicious software and hackers. As a result, they feel more empowered to protect themselves and their data by remaining vigilant and taking the necessary precautions.

Eventually, the students are always amazed by hacking and its impacts. TecDays has proven to help students understand the importance of digital security and to think twice before clicking on a link or sending a message.

Impressions: