Activities

The Hadrian Project

The Centre leads Newcastle University's contribution to the Hadrian Project. The Project, initially a collaboration between the School of Computing Science and the North East Fraud Forum (NEFF), has progressed significantly since November 2007, and now involves a number of other regional academic institutions and other organizations, in a programme of training initiatives and workshops.
For more information visit http://www.hadrianproject.com/

SAFER Internet Training

Researchers together with Microsoft have developed a free accredited training course for, children, teachers, social workers and parents to raise awareness about the dangers of unsupervised use of the Internet and how to promote greater safety. With the assistance of The Northern Grid for Learning and Microsoft, the courses were rolled out to all schools, Further Education Colleges and learning establishments across the UK in the autumn term of 2009. Additional courses have been requested on Cyber-bullying, Social Networking Sites, Virtual Worlds and Hacking. These courses are ideal for Continuous professional Development purposes as they attract a national recognised qualification upon completion.

Anti Counterfeiting programme

Jeff Yan and researchers have recently completed a 3-month research programme working with Manchester United F.C. to stop the flow of counterfeit sportswear being advertised and sold on the Internet. The results were announced to the Premiership Brand Protection Working group and other football clubs will seek similar assistance in 2010.

Keystroke Forensic Analysis

This has the potential to be a new forensic science. Currently handwriting analysis is an accepted forensic science however Professor Roy Maxion of Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh and a past associate Professor at Newcastle University has developed research which can identify a person using a keyboard within 10 keystrokes. This work has 2 clear possibilities for use within law enforcement, covertly to identify criminals whilst on line and as a forensic tool.

On 8 June 2009 an exploratory meeting was held in London with the Forensic Science Service, Child Exploitation Online Protection Service, Anti Terrorist Branch and the Police Undercover Working Group. The consensus of the meeting was that this research could be developed into 2 areas, which could be useful to law enforcement, as an intelligence tool and forensic science.