High-Tech Crime Fighters Play Hackers in Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition

High-Tech Crime Fighters Play Hackers in
Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition

March 26, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Joe Scott, Director of Communications
Sandi Gibbons, Public Information Officer
Jane Robison, News Secretary
(213) 974-3525

POMONA – Posing as computer hackers, high tech crime investigators of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office will test students’ skills in maintaining network security at a three-day cyber defense competition.

The Western Regional Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition will be held March 28-30 at California State Polytechnic University, 3801 West Temple Ave., in Pomona. District Attorney Steve Cooley will deliver the opening keynote address March 28 at 12 p.m.

The District Attorney’s Office – which co-sponsored the 1997 assembly bill that criminalized identity theft – has long played a central role in the fight against high-tech crime. Computer crime includes unauthorized computer intrusions, and computer intrusions to alter, destroy or steal stored data.

“The information age has not only given us the benefits of technological advancements, it also has ushered in a new wave of crime by tech-savvy offenders,” Cooley said. “Our role in this competition is to help students devise defense methods and counterattack strategies against hackers bent on electronic intrusion and sabotage.”

In the competition, teams comprised of up to eight students simulate a group of new employees brought in to manage and protect the IT infrastructure at a small to medium-sized IT services reseller.

During the exercise, network security professionals will attempt to penetrate and disrupt each teams’ operations. Supervising Investigators Jimmy Garcia and Senior Investigators Justin Feffer and David Maupin of the high tech crime division, will pose as hackers, while Deputy District Attorney Donn Hoffman will assist in the judging phase.

The winning team must be able to balance service level responsibilities with external attacks and internal demands, according to competition criterion. Winners will move on to the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Contest next month in San Antonio.

smd

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