Articles by Andrew Frowen on ArticleSnatch.com

Are You Aware Of The Security Risk Posed By Your Photocopier?

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:46:07 -0400

Did you know that your snazzy, modern photocopier, like your computer, has a hard drive that can log all of your activity and store it? It's a little known fact that many photocopiers don't just copy your documents onto paper, they create a digital image which is then stored on the copier's internal drive. What this means is that unless an individual or corporation takes steps to actively overwrite the drive before the copier is scrapped or resold, they could see sensitive data fall into the wrong hands, and run the risk of falling victim to identity and intellectual property theft. While many corporations take steps to destroy evidence stored on computers and handsets before disposal, photocopiers are typically not viewed as computers and so not treated with the same level of care, despite their ability to perform many of the functions of a personal computer. For corporations looking to dispose of copiers securely, there are a variety of options. It is possible to remove and physically destroy a copier's hard drive prior to disposal. **End Summary** Topics: computer forensics]]> photocopier]]> copier]]> security]]> network]]> hacker]]> digital shredding]]>]]> About the Author: ]]>

Project EVE Allows New Zealand Police To Speed Processing Of Computer-Based Evidence

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 09:47:27 -0400

A new technology is changing the way computer-based evidence is identified. Launched in August 2009, Project EVE has enabled the New Zealand Police Force to process evidence from electronic devices far quicker than they had been able to previously. EVE, which stands for the Environment for Virtualised Evidence, is an automated software system that allows police officers to analyse an electronic device for evidence by creating a clone of it and downloading its data to a network which officers can then search through. The software also enables officers to use a device as the suspect would have whilst still preserving all of the data in its original form. EVE is a form of 'forensic triaging' that has been designed to offer a simple, auditable way for data to be made easily searchable and presentable, without corrupting the original evidence. It offers a form of preliminary analysis and aims to allow routine police officers to get to grips with it after only a few training sessions. **End Summary** Topics: computer forensics]]> triaging]]> e-crime]]> EVE]]> New Zealand]]> fraud]]> computer-based evidence]]>]]> About the Author: ]]>

Can A USB Storage Device Survive A Trip Through The Human Digestive System?

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:22:27 -0400

A New York man has been charged with obstruction after attempting to destroy evidence by swallowing an USB flash drive. According to reports, Florin Necula was part of a criminal group who had been using almost undetectable card readers to extract information from the magnetic strips on cards entered into cash machines by unwitting victims. After being arrested and taken to a Secret Service office in Brooklyn, Mr Necula attempted to withhold or destroy whatever evidence was on the flash drive in question by swallowing it. Four days later, with Mr Necula still unable to pass the device, he underwent surgery under doctors' advice to have it removed. At the time of writing, it is not known whether the data on the device survived, but experiments have seen computer forensic experts still able to retrieve all of a USB device's data after it has been submerged in various acids. As such, it is fully expected that it will be possible to recover the data and use it as evidence should the case come to trial. In fact, even if a device's memory has been 'wiped', computer forensic experts can often still extract its history. **End Summary** Topics: computer forensics]]> data theft]]> destroy evidence]]> data recovery]]>]]> About the Author: ]]>

Computer Forensics Helps Track Down Origin of School Shooting Threat

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:21:14 -0400

The use of computer forensics has helped to track down the origin of a school shooting threat. Threats of a gun attack in one of Minneapolis' public schools were made in early 2010 on a social networking site, and prompted all of the schools in the area to go into a state of lockdown for a period of 48 hours. In the midst of the crisis, investigators were able to quickly track the origin of the threat to an IP address in Australia, some 10,000 miles away. But how did they do this? The threat was pinpointed with the help of computer forensic experts who examined the 'meta-data' of the messages that were posted. Meta-data is 'hidden' information that isn't immediately accessible to the average user, but describes the characteristics of an item or file. For example, the meta-data of a picture downloaded from a digital camera might say what model of camera was used, the dimensions of the picture and the size of the related file. **End Summary** Topics: computer forensics]]> meta-data]]> threats]]> social networking]]> IP address]]> internet service provider]]>]]> About the Author: ]]>

Online Banking Fraud On tThe Increase

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:20:21 -0400

The internet is becoming an increasingly significant venue channel for fraud, according to research released on 10th March 2010 by The UK Cards Association. In fact, whilst total fraud losses on UK cards and cheques fell last year, there was a 14% rise in online banking losses. Through initiatives like Chip and PIN, UK card fraud fell by 28% to 440.3 million GBP in the 2008-9 period, whilst cheque fraud fell from 41.9 million GBP in 2008 to 29.8 million GBP last year. Meanwhile, reported cases of card cloning fell by over half in the same period. However, 59.7 million GBP was lost through online banking fraud in 2009 - a 14% rise on 2008. This increase can largely be attributed to cases of customers falling victim to malware and phishing scams, with 51,000 phishing incidents being reported last year, up 16% on the year before. Phishing is the practice of sending an email that claims to be from a trustworthy source like a bank, but is in fact fraudulent. **End Summary** Topics: computer forensics]]> computer security]]> online fraud]]> phishing]]> malware]]> Trojans]]>]]> About the Author: ]]>

Police Reunite Sat Nav With Owner

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:19:14 -0400

In March 2010, it was reported that a man in Weston-super-Mare, Avon, UK was reunited with his stolen satellite navigation system by the police, despite not reporting the crime to them. Using a new undetectable method, thieves broke into the Citroen Saxo of Robin Alton late last month and stole his automotive navigation system. Assuming that he had simply forgotten to lock his car, it has been reported that Mr Alton blamed himself for the theft and did not report the incident to the authorities. However, Mr Alton has now had his Sat Nav returned to him after police arrested two men with the stolen equipment and traced the device's entries back to Mr Alton's home. Sat Nav systems are becoming increasingly popular amongst road users, with their expected user base predicted to grow to 400 million by 2015. The devices work by sending signals to global positioning satellites (GPS) that map a vehicle's position and allow it to plot directions to help the user get to their desired location. The devices also store a range of information about the user's vehicle movements either on its internal drive or an external memory card. **End Summary** Topics: computer forensics]]> sat nav]]> data recovery]]> data theft]]> police]]>]]> About the Author: ]]>

SoftAP: Is Windows 7 Creating A Hole In Your Network Security?

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:12:12 -0400

Windows 7 is the latest operating system from Microsoft and while it has proved a big hit with consumers and corporations alike since its October 2009 launch, it is also presenting a new and potential highly damaging vulnerability. The new 'SoftAP' or 'virtual Wi-Fi' feature is a first for Windows, and capitalises on the popularity of Wi-Fi - a way to connect to a network wirelessly via radio waves. The SoftAP feature allows PC users to connect to a Wi-Fi network, while simultaneously acting as an access point that other Wi-Fi users can connect to. This differs to peer-to-peer WiFi sharing, which only allows access to the connected computer's local files. With SoftAP, any connected users are able to access the whole network. The feature has been developed to allow more interactivity between consumer users e.g. sharing games and music, but in the corporate workspace, it represents a serious security risk, particularly in terms of detection. While great lengths might have been taken to ensure security on a corporate wireless network, just one user running the SoftAP software could potentially open up an unsecured gateway into the whole network through which a malicious third party could pass. **End Summary** Topics: computer forensics]]> security]]> Wi-Fi]]> SoftAP]]> virtual Wi-Fi]]> network security]]>]]> About the Author: ]]>

TRIM Technology: Faster For Users, Tougher For Computer Forensic Analysts

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:31:19 -0500

In recent years, a new way of storing data inside a computer has appeared and is growing in popularity. The Solid-State Drive (SSD) is a storage medium that uses 'solid state' technology to record data on its circuitry without the need for any moving parts. This makes it smaller, which is part of the reason it is the drive of choice for laptops such as the exceptionally thin and light Mac Air. A standard hard disk drive (HDD) works by storing data in binary (ones and zeros) in 'sectors' on rapidly rotating magnetized metal disk-shaped platters. As the platters rotate, a motorized arm moves a head in arcs across the platters, writing and reading the data as it goes. Because of their mechanical nature, hard disks are easily damaged. Overheating can warp the platters so that sectors become unreadable, while water, fire or a jolt or power surge can cause damage to the platters, actuators, motor or head, especially if the head comes into contact with the platter. In contrast, because an SSD has no moving parts, it is a less fragile form of data. **End Summary** Topics: computer forensics]]> solid state drive]]> hard disk drive]]> data recovery]]> deletion]]> security]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> IntaForensics a BS EN ISO 9001:2000 registered firm providing Computer Forensics, Expert Witness, Mobile Phone Forensics, and Forensic Data Recovery to the Legal Sector, Police Forces, Local Authorities and Commercial organisations internationally. Visit Computer Forensics for further information.

UK Government Fights Internet Fraudsters

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:14:37 -0500

Each year scams cost three million UK consumers 3.5 billion GBP, with scam emails plaguing 73% of adults every year. The UK Government today announced the formation of a new specialist cyber enforcement team, as well as extra funding for Trading Standards. Over the next three years, the Government will invest 4.3 million GBP in a series of measures. For example, the Office of Fair Trading now has a fully equipped laboratory with specialist equipment for tracing and analyzing cyber crime. With staff currently being trained by an international expert, it is hoped that the laboratory will improve the OFT's capability across all of its enforcement work from cartels to consumer protection cases. Minister Kevin Brennan said: "The internet is rapidly transforming the way we shop. It presents massive opportunities for consumers, but unfortunately it also harbours fraudsters who can leave consumers upset and out of pocket." The new OFT teams will focus on a number of areas, including online traders who try to hide their true identity to make it more difficult for consumers to seek redress. **End Summary** Topics: cyber crime]]> computer forensics]]> security]]> online]]> fraud]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> IntaForensics a BS EN ISO 9001:2000 registered firm providing Computer Forensics, Expert Witness, Mobile Phone Forensics, and Forensic Data Recovery to the Legal Sector, Police Forces, Local Authorities and Commercial organisations internationally. Visit Computer Forensics for further information.

Peeping Tom Technology: School Uses Webcams To Spy On Students

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:13:40 -0500

The family of Blake Robbins, a 15-year-old student from Pennsylvania has launched a civil lawsuit after it emerged that his school may have been using his school-issued laptop to spy on him without his knowledge. Students of Harriton High School in Lower Merion School District are issued with Apple MacBooks to use at home and school. According to the civil complaint filed with the federal court, Mr. Robbins first became aware of the alleged spying when he was called to the office of his vice principal, Lindy Matsko. According to the complaint, Ms Matsko informed Mr Robbins that "the school district was of the belief that minor plaintiff was engaged in improper behavior in [his] home, and cited as evidence a photograph from the webcam embedded in [his] personal laptop." Following this, Mr. Robbins ascertained that software had been installed to allow the camera to be activated remotely by the school. "I could take over without the user's knowledge and just activate the webcam," Houston-based computer forensics lecturer, Jim Martin told the Philadelphia Inquirer. **End Summary** Topics: computer forensics]]> computer security]]> webcam]]> cyber law]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> IntaForensics a BS EN ISO 9001:2000 registered firm providing Computer Forensics, Expert Witness, Mobile Phone Forensics, and Forensic Data Recovery to the Legal Sector, Police Forces, Local Authorities and Commercial organisations internationally. Visit Computer Forensics for further information.

Digital Forensics Helps Secure Murder Conviction

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:48:07 -0500

In January 2010, four years after his wife was found dead after an apparent overdose, 38-year-old Matt Baker, an ex-pastor from Texas was convicted of murder and sentenced to 65 years in prison. The case is the latest to demonstrate the sheer scope of digital forensic investigation. Once a tool associated largely with computer-based crimes such as hacking or possession of indecent images, digital forensics is now coming to the fore as a potentially invaluable tool for both prosecution and defence wherever an accused person's whereabouts, motives or actions are in question. In 2006, Kari Baker, a 31-year-old teacher, had appeared to have taken her own life - a suicide note and bottle of sleeping pills found close to her body. Problems in the initial investigation had meant that it looked as though Mr Baker would walk free, but months later the case was reopened when evidence was brought to light during investigations for a civil wrongful death lawsuit instigated by Ms Baker's parents. It emerged during trial that Mr Baker had slipped his wife sleeping pills and waited for her to fall asleep before smothering her with a pillow. **End Summary** Topics: computer forensics]]> digital forensics]]> law]]> murder]]> crime]]> conviction]]> prosecution]]> defence]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> IntaForensics a BS EN ISO 9001:2000 registered firm providing Computer Forensics, Expert Witness, Mobile Phone Forensics, and Forensic Data Recovery to the Legal Sector, Police Forces, Local Authorities and Commercial organisations internationally. Visit Computer Forensics for further information.

Windows 7 Image Thumbnails - A Double Edged Sword?

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:45:23 -0500

During investigations into the possession of indecent images of children, police will sieze any digital devices owned by the suspect and pass them, under controlled conditions, to a Digital Forensic Analyst for investigation. It is the analysts' role to extract evidence of any videos or images, and other documents, even where they have been deleted. For computers running Microsoft Windows, a common method for recovering evidence of deleted images is to analyse the thumbnails that are created for each image when the folder they are stored in is viewed. The thumbnails are created to reduce the time it takes to preview a folder, but because a thumbnail often remains present even after the image itself has been deleted, these entries can be used to confirm possession of indecent images, even if no other evidence of the image exists. In Windows XP, the thumbs.db file is automatically generated whenever a user views a folder in Explorer using 'thumbs' or 'filmstrip' mode. Files included in Thumbs.db files include image files (JPEGs, BMPs, GIFs and PNGs), document files (TIFFs and PDFs), video files (AVIs and MOVs), presentation files (PPTs) and some web pages (HTM and HTML). **End Summary** Topics: computer forensics]]> digital forensics]]> thumbnail]]> windows]]> vista]]> xp]]> windows 7]]> cache]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> IntaForensics a BS EN ISO 9001:2000 registered firm providing Computer Forensics, Expert Witness, Mobile Phone Forensics, and Forensic Data Recovery to the Legal Sector, Police Forces, Local Authorities and Commercial organisations internationally. Visit Computer Forensics for further information.

Recovered Mobile Video Plays Key Role In Murder Trial

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:19:45 -0500

The recovery of a deleted video on a phone owned by Travis Marc Martel was revealed in January 2010, as he stood trial in Alberta, Canada for the murder of Sarah Nicole Rae. According to the prosecution, Mr Martel stabbed Ms Rae to death after their tumultuous relationship came to a head - an allegation he denies. The court heard that his mobile phone had been recovered and Mobile phone Forensic Experts were able to recover a deleted video, which appears to show Ms Rae's final moments following the attack. Crown prosecutor Gord Wong said: "A deleted video from the cellphone was recovered. You'll hear, in essence, that video is of the dying moments of Sarah Rae with some statements made, the Crown alleges, from the accused." As the trial continues, the case is the latest to highlight the growing importance of the role of Digital Forensics Analysts in the investigation of crime. Such experts are able to analyse mobile phones, computers and other digital devices to recover deleted or damaged evidence in support of a suspect's guilt, or indeed innocence. **End Summary** Topics: computer forensics]]> crime]]> mobile phone forensics]]> smart phones]]> data recovery]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> IntaForensics a BS EN ISO 9001:2000 registered firm providing Computer Forensics, Expert Witness, Mobile Phone Forensics, and Forensic Data Recovery to the Legal Sector, Police Forces, Local Authorities and Commercial organisations internationally. Visit Computer Forensics for further information.

Cisco 2009 Midyear Security Report: Internet Criminals Get Organised

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 10:03:33 -0400

Criminals who use the Internet to fuel their illegal activities are becoming increasingly organised, with some adopting strategies from the corporate world to further their illicit gains. The news comes with the release of the Cisco 2009 Midyear Security Report, which details the tactics used by modern internet criminals in the commission of a variety of attacks such as the breach of corporate computer network and web site security, and the theft of personal information and funds. For example, online criminals exploit current events to help spread viruses. When the story of the outbreak of 'swine flu' began to emerge throughout the world in April 2009, criminals quickly distributed emails promising preventative drugs to encourage unwitting recipients to click on harmful links that could either spread viruses or attempt to 'phish' for personal information such as card payment details by purporting to be a legitimate pharmacy site. The report also details a practice known as 'spamdexing' where Internet criminals load websites with key words that are commonly searched for in search engines so as to entice great volumes of search traffic - a technique borrowed from the marketing world where it is known as 'search engine optimisation'. **End Summary** Topics: computer forensics]]> computer security]]> internet security]]> malware]]> trojan]]> virus]]> worm]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> IntaForensics a BS EN ISO 9001:2000 registered firm providing Computer Forensics, Expert Witness, Mobile Phone Forensics, and Forensic Data Recovery to the Legal Sector, Police Forces, Local Authorities and Commercial organisations internationally. Visit Computer Forensics for further information.

Should Digital Evidence Be Stored In Perpetuity?

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Where it is suspected that a computer has been used in the commission of a crime, the equipment is usually passed by law enforcement officials to computer forensic experts for analysis. In the event that any of the evidence extracted is successfully used to secure a conviction, the question then arises as to how long the evidence should be stored. Generally, there is a legal requirement to retain all forms of evidence unless the police seek permission to lawfully dispose of it, which is usually not granted until all avenues of appeal have been exhausted. In the case of digital evidence, the reasoning behind this is quite clear: as new information or scientific methodologies come to light, it is possible that an appeal could be lodged, and the computer forensic analysts could be asked to go back and analyse the drive again. For example, in recent years, the 'Trojan horse defence' has developed where an accused person claims that a Trojan - a form of malware which allows third party control of a computer by an unauthorised person - was responsible for the illegal activity that has been proven to have taken place on their computer. **End Summary** Topics: computer forensics]]> acpo]]> digital evidence]]> hard drive deterioration]]> computer crime]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> IntaForensics a BS EN ISO 9001:2000 registered firm providing Computer Forensics, Expert Witness, Mobile Phone Forensics, and Forensic Data Recovery to the Legal Sector, Police Forces, Local Authorities and Commercial organisations internationally. Visit Computer Forensics for further information.

Fraud In Britain Doubles As Recession Stretches Staff Loyalties

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The rate of fraud growth in Britain has nearly doubled in the past six months, according to the latest six monthly update to BDO Stoy Hayward's annual fraud report. The update reveals that reported fraud during the whole of 2008 cost Britain 1.2 billion GBP, but just six months into 2009, the cost of reported fraud has already reached 960 million GBP. Further, the total number of fraud cases has jumped by a third. Simon Bevan, head of the fraud services team at BDO Stoy Hayward, said, "From a fraud point of view we are a long way from bottom. It is extremely likely that the total fraud figures will treble during the course of the recession". The report identifies a serious problem of internal fraud threatening the survival of corporate and public sector entities. As management level employees face pay freezes, bonus withdrawals and redundancy threats, some are straying off the path to keep their jobs and salaries in tact. The report found that fraud committed by management makes up 29% of reported cases of fraud, costing the country 339 million GBP in 2007 and 358 million GBP in 2008. **End Summary** Topics: computer forensics]]> fraud]]> internal fraud]]> management fraud]]> computer fraud]]> computer crime]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> IntaForensics a BS EN ISO 9001:2000 registered firm providing Computer Forensics, Expert Witness, Mobile Phone Forensics, and Forensic Data Recovery to the Legal Sector, Police Forces, Local Authorities and Commercial organisations internationally. Visit Computer Forensics for further information.

The Danger In Computer Forensics Of Neglecting Old Storage Media

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

With hard drive capacity growing exponentially and new methods of storing data appearing on the market all time, the world of computer crime prevention has naturally focused on keeping up with new technologies. However, for computer forensic analysts, whose job it is to extract legally admissible data from computers and other electronic devices, there is an increasing danger that they will not be prepared to cope with old media that has all but fallen out of usage. For example, if a person was suspected to have viewed or distributed indecent images of children, law enforcement officials would typically confiscate the suspect's computer, mobile phone, USB storage devices and any other electronic media that might hold data. But what if the suspect's home contains a tape cartridge, zip drive or old-style 8-inch floppy disk? Where a quick response to an incident is crucial, there is the potential for an investigation to be delayed if a computer forensic analyst does not have the skills or equipment to read old media. **End Summary** Topics: computer forensics]]> legacy media]]> old media]]> zip drive]]> disc imaging]]> computer-based evidence]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> IntaForensics a BS EN ISO 9001:2000 registered firm providing Computer Forensics, Expert Witness, Mobile Phone Forensics, and Forensic Data Recovery to the Legal Sector, Police Forces, Local Authorities and Commercial organisations internationally. Visit Computer Forensics for further information.

Cloud Computing And Computer Forensics

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

If a considerable proportion of your business operations are conducted via computer, it is likely that you use a range of software, such as a word processor, email client, accounting package and client relationship management tool. For every piece of software in an office there is usually a purchase cost involved, as well as further costs and man hours associated with repairing, updating and upgrading the software as and when necessary. 'Cloud computing' addresses this issue by moving away from 'software' applications installed on the client's computer and instead offering access to the applications via the internet. With cloud computing, the application is hosted on a central server, which means that updates and maintenance can be carried out by the provider, and the costs spread between all the users in the form of a subscription fee. Since there could be hundreds, thousands or even millions of subscribers, it is possible for the application to be offered with no user-end maintenance required at a comparatively low cost. **End Summary** Topics: computer forensics]]> cloud computing]]> association of chief police offices]]> computer-based evidence]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> IntaForensics a BS EN ISO 9001:2000 registered firm providing Computer Forensics, Expert Witness, Mobile Phone Forensics, and Forensic Data Recovery to the Legal Sector, Police Forces, Local Authorities and Commercial organisations internationally. Visit Computer Forensics for further information.

UK's First 'Cyber Security Strategy' Launched

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The Government has announced the creation of a dedicated Office of Cyber Security to protect the UK and British citizens from the growing threats posed in cyberspace. With modern Britons becoming increasingly dependent on computers and communications technology, the internet has become an area where the UK and its citizens can become vulnerable to hostile states, terrorists, and criminals. The new measures announced by the Prime Minister are designed to help the Government reshape the way Britain responds to these cyber challenges that threaten UK security interests. In a statement, the Prime Minister said: "Just as in the nineteenth century we had to secure the seas for our national safety and prosperity, and in the twentieth century we had to secure the air, in the twenty first century we also have to secure our position in cyber space in order to give people and businesses the confidence they need to operate safely there. That is why today I am announcing - alongside our updated National Security Strategy - the UK's first strategy for cyber security". **End Summary** Topics: computer forensics]]> cyber law]]> internet security]]> internet crime]]> computer crime]]> acpo]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> IntaForensics a BS EN ISO 9001:2000 registered firm providing Computer Forensics, Expert Witness, Mobile Phone Forensics, and Forensic Data Recovery to the Legal Sector, Police Forces, Local Authorities and Commercial organisations internationally. Visit Computer Forensics for further information.

VoIP Technology: A New Challenge For Computer Forensic Analysts

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

As computers have become more affordable, and internet access more commonplace, communications via the internet has been slowly replacing the physical alternatives. Brochures have largely been replaced with websites, letters with emails, and CDs with downloadable MP3s. Now, landline telephones - one of the few remaining commonplace non-internet based methods of communication - are slowly being replaced by Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), a technology which allows voice communications to be carried via the web. While VoIP can offer several benefits for users - including free calls between computers - for law enforcers wishing to intercept the communications of suspected criminals, VoIP poses a series of problems. When a person makes a call using a landline telephone, it passes through the 'public switched telephone network (PSTN)'. Originally, this network was made up of fixed line telephone systems, but is now largely digital. However, each call still passes through an 'exchange' in its entirety. This means that if law enforcement officials have authorisation to listen in on a telephone call, they can intercept the call via the exchange. **End Summary** Topics: computer forensics]]> voice over internet protocol]]> voice over ip]]> call tapping]]> pstn]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> IntaForensics a BS EN ISO 9001:2000 registered firm providing Computer Forensics, Expert Witness, Mobile Phone Forensics, and Forensic Data Recovery to the Legal Sector, Police Forces, Local Authorities and Commercial organisations internationally. Visit Computer Forensics for further information.

Virtualisation Software In Computer Forensic Investigations

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Virtualisation software allows a complete operating system to run from within another. So for example, a user might have a computer running Windows Vista, but by installing virtualisation software, they could run a copy of Windows XP from the desktop. This virtual operating system can then perform every action a 'real' virtual operating system can, including browsing the internet, editing files and accessing the CD ROM drive or other portable media. Such functionality might seem useless to some, but for many users it has a number of applications. For example, because virtualisation software can be stored on portable media such as a USB storage device, it allows the user to effectively take an entire user environment with them wherever they go. So rather than just carrying files, they can access all of their preferences on any machine. Alternatively, the same user may wish to access a piece of software that only works on the XP version of Windows. By installing virtualisation software, they could access this without having to revert the whole machine back to an older operating system. **End Summary** Topics: computer forensics]]> virtualisation software]]> computer crime]]> removable media]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> IntaForensics a BS EN ISO 9001:2000 registered firm providing Computer Forensics, Expert Witness, Mobile Phone Forensics, and Forensic Data Recovery to the Legal Sector, Police Forces, Local Authorities and Commercial organisations internationally. Visit Computer Forensics for further information.

Case Management Systems And Resource Control In Computer Forensics

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

In recent years as computers and mobile phones have become ubiquitous, the analysis of digital evidence has become necessary in the majority of legal cases. Even where a computer or phone is unlikely to have been used directly in the commission of a crime, communications records on such devices may still reveal vital evidence as to motive or guilt. Computer forensics, also known as digital forensics, involves the analysis of computers and other electronic devices in order to produce legal evidence. Such investigations are typically long and complex, so as the average forensic caseload grows, so too does the need for an effective method to manage the dissemination of information between the many authorised personnel involved in an investigation. With forensic experts and police high tech crime unit personnel each performing different functions simultaneously as part of an investigation, the sheer weight of update requests sent back and forth can place a drag on the investigation. For this reason, a central location where up-to-the-minute information about a case can be gleaned is becoming essential. With time being a factor in almost all investigations, it is simply not viable to allow a single member of personnel to become a bottleneck. **End Summary** Topics: computer forensics]]> case management]]> high tech crime]]> resource management]]> police]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> IntaForensics a BS EN ISO 9001:2000 registered firm providing Computer Forensics, Expert Witness, Mobile Phone Forensics, and Forensic Data Recovery to the Legal Sector, Police Forces, Local Authorities and Commercial organisations internationally. Visit Computer Forensics for further information.

The Dangers Posed By the Growing Use of Home Wireless Routers

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

In recent years, home internet access has become ubiquitous and the majority of users now connect 'wirelessly' via a central 'router'. This method has become extremely convenient for families with multiple computers, games consoles and other devices capable of connecting to the internet, but it has also left many homes open to invasion from nearby hackers who attempt to access the network without authorisation. The majority of wireless routers, particularly those from mainstream providers such as Virgin and BT, come with a variety of security measures already set up. However, computer forensics experts have long been warning that each of these requires some attention if they are to stand successfully in the way of malicious snoopers. First, access to your network will generally require each computer user to enter a 'passkey'. While this offers some degree of security, the key is often printed on the router, so if you place it near a window, there is a strong chance that the key could be spotted and used. As such, it is wise to change the passkey as soon as you receive the router and ideally renew it every two to three months. **End Summary** Topics: computer forensics]]> wireless]]> home internet security]]> firewall]]> file sharing]]> router]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> IntaForensics a BS EN ISO 9001:2000 registered firm providing Computer Forensics, Expert Witness, Mobile Phone Forensics, and Forensic Data Recovery to the Legal Sector, Police Forces, Local Authorities and Commercial organisations internationally. Visit Computer Forensics for further information.

The Distinction Between E-Discovery And Computer Forensics

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

For many but the most well-versed in the world of computer based evidence, the terms 'electronic discovery' and 'computer forensics' may seem synonymous but in fact, they fulfil very different roles, and involve a very different level of expertise. Electronic discovery, usually shortened to e-discovery, is a term rooted in the American civil legal system and refers to the stage prior to a trial when a request is made by one party that the other hand over any and all archived electronic material that they hold in relation to the case. This will include emails, word processing documents, spreadsheets and other data. Once handover has occurred, e-discovery involves the process of sifting through huge amounts of 'raw' data to remove duplicates (called 'de-duping') and useless information, in order to bring it together at a single location so that it can be searched electronically with ease by investigators or the lawyers representing that party. Sometimes, e-discovery is used to recover data from a damaged computer, but often it is used to investigate whether a company is compliant with the law in the way that it stores and handles data. **End Summary** Topics: computer forensics]]> digital forensics]]> electronic discovery]]> e-discovery]]> computer misuse]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> IntaForensics a BS EN ISO 9001:2000 registered firm providing Computer Forensics, Expert Witness, Mobile Phone Forensics, and Forensic Data Recovery to the Legal Sector, Police Forces, Local Authorities and Commercial organisations internationally. Visit Computer Forensics for further information.

'Pirate Bay' And The Legal Implications For Those Facilitating File-Sharing

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Over recent years, as home internet connections have become commonplace and the average download speed has increased exponentially, the unauthorised sharing of copyrighted music and video files has become increasingly popular. In fact, recent reports estimate that six million people regularly file-share copyright content without permission. The music and film industries have tried largely in vain to prosecute those who drive such activity, but April 2009 saw the successful conviction of a key player in the file-sharing industry - an outcome that could have significant implications for the future of file-sharing. The four owners of The Pirate Bay (TPB), the world's most high-profile file-sharing website, were convicted in their native Sweden of breaking copyright law. They were sentenced to one year's imprisonment and ordered to pay damages amounting to $4.5m (approximately 3 million GBP). Before the conviction, it had widely been thought that the people behind sites like TPB could not be prosecuted because although they facilitate illegal downloading by providing an index of file locations, no unauthorised content is stored on their servers. When file-sharing first became popular, files were generally stored on large central servers and users all connected to that server in order to download files. **End Summary** Topics: computer forensics]]> file-sharing]]> peer-to-peer]]> P2P]]> pirate bay]]> illegal downloading]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> IntaForensics a BS EN ISO 9001:2000 registered firm providing Computer Forensics, Expert Witness, Mobile Phone Forensics, and Forensic Data Recovery to the Legal Sector, Police Forces, Local Authorities and Commercial organisations internationally. Visit Computer Forensics for further information.