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

Webinar Description: In recent decades, gaming consoles have developed from simple, single-function machines into sophisticated personal computing devices. These devices can hold a multitude of personal information belonging to players, including names and email addresses, IP addresses, payment information, connected online accounts, friend data, and more. Additionally, the internet connectivity and chat features of these devices creates the possibility of real-world crimes being facilitated in a gaming ecosystem. Such activity may include the theft and sale of personal information, exploitation and sextortion, and swatting or doxing, which can all occur at the local level and may not reach thresholds for escalation to federal law enforcement.

Because of this along with the popularity of gaming consoles among all ages, it is important for state and local law enforcement to understand what types of data are accessible from gaming consoles and how to leverage player information to obtain attribution and intelligence. It is also important to understand how to navigate online gaming platforms and forums such as Discord and PC gaming launchers, which can provide player account information, show chats between users, and link them to additional malicious activity. Understanding of these platforms can support local and state investigations as they are free to use and require little technical proficiency to navigate

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

• Identify the various types of cyber threats present in the gaming industry, both within the games themselves and on clearnet platforms such as Discord.
• Recognize the major types of gaming consoles and their associated manufacturers; understand how to navigate through console menus.
• Review sources of identifiable information available on gaming consoles and platforms that can be used in criminal investigations.