About this Course

Cybercrime Awareness and Digital Evidence Recognition and Collection will teach law enforcement first responders the importance of the digital footprint, how to recognize digital evidence, where it is located, and how to collect it. While most first responders know computers, tablets, and cellphones may contain digital evidence, they have not been taught how to properly seize and secure the digital evidence. Furthermore, first responders may not be aware of other devices or locations where digital evidence may be found. This course will ensure first responders are cognizant of the multiple devices that may contain digital evidence, as well as the many locations, such as email, Internet Service Providers, cloud storage providers, and location data from GPS / maps on mobile devices stored by the software providers. The course is divided into 8 sections, each approximately 1 hour in length.

Cybercrime Awareness and Digital Footprint
Introduction to Digital Data and Storage Systems
Digital Evidence Collection
Computer Networking
Email and Cloud Storage Evidence
Proxy, VPN, TOR/Darkweb
Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Overview
Conclusion and Final Exam

FormatSelf-pace Online

Instructor Dr. Thomas S. Hyslip

Dr. Thomas S. Hyslip is an Instructor in the Criminology Department at the University of South Florida. He received his Doctor of Science degree in Information Assurance from Capitol College in 2014. His research focuses on cybercrime and cybersecurity, including computer hacking, malware, and DDoS attacks. Dr. Hyslip has been published in a variety of journals, including the Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law, Deviant Behavior, and the Homeland Defense and Security Journal. Before becoming a faculty member at USF, Dr. Hyslip served as a federal law enforcement officer for over 23 years specializing in cybercrime investigations and digital forensics.

Dr. Hyslip’s final law enforcement position was the Resident Agent in Charge of the Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Cyber Resident Agency. He was previously a Special Agent with the United States Secret Service and retired as a Colonel from the U.S. Army Reserve. Dr. Hyslip has testified as an expert witness on computer forensics and network intrusions in numerous federal, state, and local courts. He is a Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP) and a Certified Ethical Hacker (C|EH).

Instructor Gary Rudd

Gary Rudd is a Special Agent (SA) with the Department of Defense (DoD), Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Cyber Field Office, and is currently based in Fort Lauderdale, FL. As a cybercrime agent SA Rudd is actively involved in investigating network intrusion attempts into critical Defense Department computer systems and those of defense contractors. SA Rudd previously attended the undercover training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and has extensive experience working undercover and targeting underground hacker forums and large-scale botnets involved in denial-of-service attacks.

Before DCIS, SA Rudd was a Customs and Border Protection Officer at New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport for two years. Outside of Federal employment, SA Rudd had over a decade of experience with computer and information technology as a business owner and information technology enterprise consultant. SA Rudd holds numerous technical certifications including the Department of Defense Certified Cyber Crime Investigator and Certified Ethical Hacker and has attended extensive computer network, information security, and hacking classes.

Enroll inCybercrime Awareness and Digital Evidence Recognition and Collection (March 2025)