Students Stalk Cyber Prey
Computer science researchers at Florida State University are developing new technology that will allow law enforcement officials to gather evidence against online criminals such as cyberstalkers.
The technology consists of software that victims can install on their computers that connects to a remote police computer, which enables the officer to view every email and chat session that is seen by the individual.
“It’s the equivalent of having a cop standing in your house watching,” says Leo Kermes, a graduate student at FSU’s Florida Cybersecurity Institute and a project designer.
The program offers a private chat channel so that the victim and police officer can exchange messages, and even gives the law enforcement official the ability to take control of the victim’s computer for direct communication with the stalker.
Also, the technology features a recorder that captures every communication and plays it back like a video. “The main point of this is to support the victim and capture the evidence,” explains project head and computer science professor Sudhir Aggarwal.
The Florida Computer Crime Center will test the technology, which is funded by a $281,000 grant from the National Institute of Justice, and suggest improvements to FSU.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the Tallahassee Democrat (FL) (10/10/05); Bridges, Tony .
