By Dr. Mohamed El-Guindy
UNODC Cybercrime Expert | FBCS | CEng | CSci | President, ISSA Egypt Chapter
A New Global Era for Cybercrime Cooperation
On 24 December 2024, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the first global United Nations Convention against Cybercrime through Resolution 79/243.
The Convention was then opened for signature in Hanoi, Viet Nam, on 25–26 October 2025, at a high-level conference and signing ceremony hosted by the Government of Viet Nam — an event now widely referred to as the birth of the Hanoi Convention against Cybercrime.
For the first time, the international community has a universal legal framework to strengthen cooperation, evidence sharing, and mutual legal assistance in combating crimes committed through information and communication technologies.
But this cooperation rests on a simple foundation:
We must share a common language for cybercrime.
If a term such as malware, digital evidence, or ransomware means one thing to an investigator in Cairo and something different to a judge elsewhere, justice and cooperation both suffer.
That is why ISSA Egypt is launching a new national awareness initiative: Cybercrime & Cybersecurity 101.
ISSA’s Legacy of Knowledge and Ethics
For more than three decades, the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) has been the professional home for cybersecurity specialists worldwide, promoting ethical practice, continuing education, and community.
ISSA’s role is even documented in the Encyclopedia of Cybercrime, which cites it as a leading professional body shaping the field of information security.
ISSA Egypt, under the leadership of Dr. Mohamed El-Guindy, extends this legacy to the Arab region by connecting:
- Academic research and postgraduate education
- Judicial and law-enforcement training
- International standards and conventions in cybersecurity and digital forensics
Why Terminology Matters More Than Ever
Every cyber investigation, policy, and court case begins with how we define the basic concepts.
A vague or inconsistent understanding of key terms can:
- Distort how digital evidence is collected and preserved
- Create confusion between technical practice and legal standards
- Undermine cooperation between countries
To address this, ISSA Egypt created the Cybercrime & Cybersecurity 101 Series — a daily, open-access glossary explaining one key term at a time.
Supporting the Hanoi Convention’s Vision
The new UN Convention against Cybercrime emphasizes education, awareness, and capacity building as essential pillars of prevention.
ISSA Egypt’s Cybercrime & Cybersecurity 101 campaign supports that vision by:
- Translating complex technical and legal terms into plain Arabic and English
- Linking each concept to its legal, investigative, and ethical context
- Promoting a shared vocabulary across law enforcement, judiciary, academia, and industry
- Offering trusted, academically grounded explanations for the public
This initiative is more than a glossary — it is a bridge between law and technology, aligned with the Hanoi Convention and Budapest Convention as the main frameworks but other cybersecurity terms and or definitions will be used from diffirent sources.
A Regional Call to Action
Cybersecurity and the fight against cybercrime are collective responsibilities requiring shared understanding and ethical awareness.
“You can’t defend what you don’t understand. Knowledge is the first line of defense.” — Dr. Mohamed El-Guindy
Through this campaign, ISSA Egypt invites:
- Professionals to deepen their understanding
- Educators & trainers to integrate clear terminology
- Students & youth to build digital justice foundations
- The public to become informed digital citizens
Join us. Learn one term a day. Be part of a safer digital future for the Arab world and beyond.
Explore the Series
Start learning at 👉 https://issa-eg.org/category/cybercrime101/