Scotland’s cops fight cybercrime with grit and determination

TLDR:

• Scottish Police are facing a surge in cybercrime, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The police force defines its capabilities across four domains to counter cybercrimes more effectively.

Scottish police are under increasing pressure from cybercriminals, with Detective Chief Inspector Norman Stevenson noting that cybercrime is on the rise, encompassing cases with a cybersecurity component, including cryptocurrency-related investigations. With the rise in digital devices needing forensic examination, the police are adopting a multi-pronged approach including training dogs to sniff out digital storage devices. Chief Superintendent Conrad Trickett highlighted the surge in online crimes, especially fraud, since the pandemic. Despite efforts to differentiate between cyber-dependent and cyber-enabled crimes, challenges remain due to rapidly evolving criminal tactics. The launch of the Scottish Cyber Coordination Center (SC3) aims to enhance intelligence sharing and responses to cyber threats. Challenges in the healthcare sector, particularly the National Health Service, include phishing attacks, legacy systems, and budget constraints, especially in delivering care services.