District Attorney Hoovler Announces Release of Senior Citizen Cybersecurity Guide
Orange County District Attorney’s Office Digital Forensics Unit Develops Training for Local Seniors About Protecting Themselves from Cybercrime
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced the release of the Senior Citizen Cybersecurity Guide, created by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office Digital Forensics Unit (“DFU”). The DFU, which was created in July, 2023, is dedicated to searching for and analyzing digital evidence retrieved from devices such as cellular telephones, computers and vehicles that have been taken into evidence by police agencies throughout Orange County. The unit is patterned after similar unit that exist in the Manhattan and Bronx County District Attorney’s Offices. In addition to searching devices already in evidence, the unit’s staff will also use their extensive experience to aid other Orange County police agencies by:assisting at crime scenes; conducting child exploitation investigations; and, by conducting specialized video DVR extractions. The DFU is led by a Senior Investigator and staffed by two additional full time District Attorney Investigators who collectively have more than 80 years of law enforcement experience and 1500 hours of specialized training in digital forensics and child exploitation investigations.
The Senior Citizen Cybersecurity Guide reviews facts about cybercrime and its impact on senior citizens. It also calls attention to common schemes that criminals use to victimize vulnerable seniors. Importantly, the guide discusses the steps that individuals can take to help prevent against these types of crimes. Members of the DFU have joined District Attorney Hoovler in talking with local seniors and distributing the guide. These talks are a collaborative effort between the subject-matter experts of the DFU and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office Community Affairs Unit.
“Increasingly, we see cybercrime proliferating at the expense of the vulnerable members of our community,” said District Attorney Hoovler, “While the tactics and techniques of the criminals are new, the results are unfortunately similar to familiar scams. My Office, including our Digital Forensics Unit and our Community Affairs Unit, will continue to engage with citizens of Orange County to equip them with the knowledge and information necessary to protect themselves against 21stcentury crime.”