The course is only open to U.S. state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and judges.

Course Description: Cybercriminals in clearnet and darknet spaces often use tools like encrypted communication platforms in the commission of cybercrimes. This course introduces participants to various communication platforms and their use by online threat actors. Participants will gain technical knowledge of encrypted communication platforms and gain practical knowledge on how to conduct investigations that involve these platforms.

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Differentiate between the types of communications platforms and describe the goals of secure communications.

• Describe threat actors’ behaviors on darknet forums and marketplaces and identify their motives for platform preferences.

• Identify operational security (OPSEC) practices used to safely communicate with threat actors and describe the various types of communication used on clearnet and darknet platforms.

• Examine facilitators and barriers to international cooperation and identify various communication platforms and markers used to identify criminal activity

• Synthesize the course material to be able to conduct an investigation that involves communication

platforms.

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a certificate of course completion.