Many criminal truths, whether related to cyber cases or not, may be disclosed with the help or use of YouTube. In some cases, YouTube helps the perpetrator, but in others, YouTube could be the source of hope for victims.

Private investigations focusing on cyber crime should consider YouTube users as possible suspects if their clients’ computers have been compromised. It almost always starts with an email that hints about video footage of yourself uploaded to the popular website and contains a link to the video. Subject lines used on these bogus emails include “Dude don’t send that stuff to my home email” and “Dude your gonna get caught”.

Exploit Prevention Labs label this as the Storm Worm attack and once the link has been clicked, it will be immediately directed to a website where various malicious software programs would be installed to your computer without your knowledge.

Updated anti-virus and spyware protection will keep you safe from this threat but a notice will then appear, requesting you to download the software program to view your YouTube video. Of course, what you’d be downloading instead is malicious software programs.

The Storm Worm actually uses a bot, and not a worm, to successfully infiltrate a computer. Infiltrated websites are then made a part of a botnet, a type of network, and in which an individual can control all the systems from a centralized point.

In New Zealand, YouTube takes the limelight again when video footage of a man stealing a laptop was uploaded to the site. One of the video’s viewers recognized the thief and reported it to the authorities. The man was then successfully caught.

Another case where YouTube emerged in a positive light was in the search for a missing 4-year-old girl from Britain. Gerry and Kate McCann, the parents of Madeleine, believed that their little girl was taken from their holiday apartment in a Portuguese resort.

They are hoping that the video they had posted on YouTube’s new feature, Don’t You Forget about Me, would reach people all over the world and help them find their missing daughter. Videos of other missing children can also be uploaded in this section.

It is estimated that an individual need only to spend approximately £600 on the necessary tools to earn millions from cyber crime. PandaLabs report that these tools can be purchased for extremely low prices from online black markets. With these tools, cyber criminals will no doubt be able to find more ways to use the YouTube to their advantage.

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Forty-two states of America require individuals to obtain proper licensing before they can become legitimate private investigators. Because of the sensitivity of most cases needing private investigation, licensing requirements were mainly established to ensure that only qualified individuals would have the means of working as private investigators.

Licensing requirements vary from one state to another, but most of them need individuals to be over 18 years old, have a clean criminal record, and is clinically healthy. 

Educational and training requirements may, however, vastly differ. In some states, specialized training and education are considered necessary while in other states, they are considered superfluous. But as specialized training and education can only improve, rather than impair, your skills, it is best to take the appropriate classes to make yourself a better private investigator in the future.

First, you could try gaining a college degree in criminal justice. This will usually take you 4 years to complete, but a vocational school could let you complete this degree in two years.

Training may be obtained by working for other private investigative agencies as an apprentice of sorts. States differ regarding the number of hours required for training. In most cases, your training would involve office and field work and of course, writing reports. If you think that everything about a private investigator’s work is glamorous and exciting, the last task will quickly disabuse you of such a notion.

Once you’ve completed your training, you will finally be able to take the necessary licensing exam for would-be private investigators. These tests are generally administered by a specific state department. Passing scores, again, vary from state to state.

If you do pass the exam, you can start preparing your documents and have them evaluated by the city hall. Documents you need to bring should include those affirming your identity, completion of educational and training requirements, and of course proof that you had indeed passed the test.

Once they’ve been evaluated and approved then you’ll get your license in no time. Keep in mind, however, that the license provided for private investigators is different from the license given to private investigative agencies.

If you also wish to operate and manage your own private investigative agency, you’ll have to present your private investigator license together with other requirements stipulated by your state. Only and only if and when you’ve received your license to operate an agency should you actually open one and launch your business. Doing otherwise is punishable by the law.

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