The Charger Blog

Connecticut Attorney General Discusses Cybercrime with Students, Faculty

As part of a recent visit to the University, Attorney General William Tong interacted with faculty and students, discussing the importance of cybersecurity and data privacy as well as combatting cybercrime. He also had the opportunity to learn about how the University is preparing students to be the next generation of leaders in addressing these critical issues.

November 15, 2022

By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and Communications


Attorney General William Tong speaks to students.
Attorney General William Tong speaks to students.
Students had the opportunity to ask Attorney General William Tong questions.
Students had the opportunity to ask Attorney General William Tong questions.

As an engineer, Vahid Behzadan, Ph.D., is interested in how things work. But, he says, heӰԭs also curious about how things break. His work explores, in part, how cyber systems can be vulnerable.

Dr. Behzadan recently was part of a group of engineering and criminal justice faculty who welcomed to the University. It was an opportunity for Tong to learn about how the University is training students to combat cybercrime and about the important work taking place.

ӰԭOur students learn hacking methods so that they understand what hackers are capable of,Ӱԭ explained Dr. Behzadan, an assistant professor of data science and founder and director of the UniversityӰԭs Secure and Assured Intelligent Learning () research group. ӰԭThis way, they can help prevent cybercrime. On the research side, we have a number of labs that work on the cutting edge. My lab, SAIL, works on AI security and safety. The more intelligent the cyber ecosystem becomes Ӱԭ self-driving cars, and so on Ӱԭ the more vulnerable it becomes.Ӱԭ

As part of his visit to the University, Tong addressed a group of cybersecurity and criminal justice students, discussing statewide initiatives for addressing cybercrime. He explained his own role as attorney general, enforcing laws to stop, forestall, and remedy data breaches.

Tong also discussed a variety of harms and risks that people face online, from stolen personal information to the harmful content users may encounter. Algorithms can push harmful content to users, he explained, and several attorneys general across the country, including Tong, are now investigating Instagram and TikTok for this. Tong believes companies should be held responsible for the content on their platforms.

ӰԭRisks and hazardsӰԭ

Data breaches were a critical part of TongӰԭs presentation. They can happen on a national level, he said, citing the major data breach of Equifax in 2017 in which the private records of nearly 150 million Americans were compromised. He also stressed the importance of understanding cybercrime risk on a more local level, citing a ransomware attack on the town of Plainfield, Conn., earlier this year.

Attorney General William Tong with faculty and students in the UniversityӰԭs Samuel S. Bergami Jr. Cybersecurity Center.
Attorney General William Tong with faculty and students in the UniversityӰԭs Samuel S. Bergami Jr. Cybersecurity Center.

ӰԭState and local governments have lots of information on us,Ӱԭ said Tong. ӰԭSo much information is collected and stored by institutions. Data privacy is closely related to cybersecurity. Bad actors usually want our personal information because itӰԭs a play for information that can be sold.Ӱԭ

Tong explained to students that the Ӱԭpolicy battleӰԭ around data is impacted by how personal data are treated. He explained that the European approach to data treats personal data, such as an individualӰԭs name, address, and buying habits, as belonging to the individual. But, he says, in the United States, the approach is very different.

ӰԭHere, because of the growth and success of the tech industry, we treat information as a commodity to be bought and sold,Ӱԭ he explained. ӰԭNow weӰԭre realizing the risks and hazards.Ӱԭ

ӰԭThe new frontier of cyber and data privacyӰԭ

Students also had the opportunity to ask Tong questions, and he learned about how the University is preparing them to address cybercrime.

Tiffany McLee, MPIA, CAMS, an adjunct professor of investigations who teaches courses in money laundering and financial crime investigations, says the UniversityӰԭs curriculum is providing students with the analytical, investigative, and technical skills to identify emerging cybersecurity threats, understand them, and ultimately, connect them to financial crime.

Attorney General William Tong visited a cyber computing class.
Attorney General William Tong visited a cyber computing class.

ӰԭWhat is often missing from the courses you see at other universities is the fact that everybody treats cybersecurity separately from financial crime investigations,Ӱԭ explained Prof. McLee. ӰԭThey donӰԭt realize there is an intersection between cybersecurity and financial crimes because most of the bad actors are financially motivated. We have to be able to understand that connection.Ӱԭ

Following the discussion, Tong met with students and faculty in the UniversityӰԭs Samuel S. Bergami Jr. Cybersecurity Center. He interacted with students, attending a demonstration in a cyber computing class. Tong says it is more critical than ever that cybersecurity and data privacy are taken seriously and that the next generation of professionals is prepared to address these issues.

ӰԭSo much happens online and with such frequency and volume that itӰԭs easy to lose sight of it all,Ӱԭ he said. ӰԭIt can be hard to keep track of it. The new frontier of cyber and data privacy is challenging for all of us.Ӱԭ

Left to right: Interim President Sheahon Zenger, Ph.D.; Attorney General William Tong; Mario Gaboury, J.D., Ph.D., dean of the Lee College.
Left to right: Interim President Sheahon Zenger, Ph.D.; Attorney General William Tong; Mario Gaboury, J.D., Ph.D., dean of the Lee College.