Needle in a haystack

Image-Seeker is a software product for searching and retrieving visual assets when the volume of files is simply too large for an unaided human to handle. To start with, we wanted to simulate how a forensics investigator would use this

Examining Hard Drives During Discovery (US legal issues)

Over-stuffed file cabinets that hold business records and personal information have been replaced by compact computer hard drives that offer easy and convenient storage of and access to a variety of items, including correspondence, forms, memos, photos, account information and

Microsoft steps up work with police

Microsoft has been stepping up its co-operation with law enforcement communities worldwide in an effort to combat electronic crime. The company is to begin working with officers from Europol in the next few weeks and is already training officers at

Plea deal in US ‘spybot’ computer crime case

A hacker from a “botnet underground” group that infected nearly a quarter-million computers with spy software is pleading guilty to criminal charges, US prosecutors said Friday… More (AFP)

UK Government hints at new national computer crime force

The UK Government is considering setting up a new national police unit to tackle computer crime, just two years after the National High Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU) was disbanded… More (Out-Law.com)

Why Cops Can’t Catch Cybercriminals

The forensics labs you see on TV might seem pretty high-tech, but in real life, most law enforcement agencies don’t have access to skills and equipment like that, a top federal law enforcement officer noted this morning. Speaking here at

Cops 2.0: law enforcement wants to become better at digital snooping

Many of today’s US police departments have computer forensics teams on hand that can perform digital sleuthing when a case calls for it. For most departments, however, the online realm still isn’t a standard “beat” during an investigation. Lieutenant Charles

Security Bites Podcast: Why online criminals get away

This week Robert Vamosi interviews Dave Merkel, Mandiant’s vice president of products, about how investigators go about finding or (as we’ll soon hear) not finding the people responsible for cybercrime. Merkel is a former agent with the U.S. Air Force

Texas Slams The Door On Unlicensed Computer Investigators

Any firm hiring an unlicensed computer investigator runs the risk of having all information obtained in the process invalidated. Hiring an expert witness to testify in cases involving electronically stored information, computer crimes, misuse of computers, or any other computer

E-mails as Court Evidence: Be ready to Produce & Afford

United States Federal Courts are reluctant to accept high-computer-forensic costs as a reason to waive production of electronic data. When electronic data like corporate e-mails cannot be easily produced, computer forensic experts are required. Services rendered by computer forensic experts

Computer Crime Investigator Wanted (Tazewell County)

Tazewell County authorities are on the hunt. They’re looking for a computer and financial crimes investigator to coordinate their new computer crime task force. State’s Attorney Stewart Umholtz says he’s received the okay from the Tazewell county board to hire

Starting a Digital Forensics Section

Craig is sitting in his office enjoying a cup of coffee when his telephone rings. He answers and on the line is his boss, George, the laboratory director. George informs Craig that he wants to provide Digital Forensic analysis services

Public and police are finally taking online crime seriously

Recently, I attended a barbecue at a friend’s house in north London, where another friend was trying to fix his laptop. “Do you realise that there are three people, right now, using your wireless broadband?” the computer expert asked my

Defining Digital Forensics

Wouldn’t it be great if we could just look up the term “digital forensics” in the dictionary? Unfortunately, as you and others have found, it is not that easy. Even better, wouldn’t it be great if we could sort out

Forensics: New Options for the Enterprise

If you think finding out who did what with your data always means calling in high-priced spooks armed with arcane software, think again. The trend is toward placing the power to handle investigations in the hands of enterprises themselves. Why?

On the Trail of Digital Secrets

From prominent murder cases to lowly divorce proceedings, the e-mail messages that people send and the Web sites they view can and will be used in court. The people who unearth this data and make it usable in the courtroom