My company used to be a Accessdata reseller, we have asked AD directly about the right to use FTK imager. And the answer from them is, FTK imager is free for FTK user. It means you need to have FTK to order to enjoy the free usage of FTK imager. This is rather tricky but often an ignored fact to the forensic community.
I beg your pardon? ?
@Danalex99
The point here is that a tool to image an hard disk has not that much possibilities, it either manages to make a forensic sound image (and the hash is verified through any number of different tools) or it does not.
If it does, it is acceptable and has to be accepted, if it doesn't it is not acceptable and hence cannot be accepted.The algorithm "addition" is verified if you give to it 2 and 2 and the result is 4, i.e. any algorithm that once fed with 2 and 2 makes 4 is acceptable.
jaclaz
Yes sir! How may I help?
Free for FTK user
This could also mean 'free for everyone else' as well.
I would suggest that if the product is without charge, and there is no specific registration or licence code, then one has every reason to accept the product as free.
I have just downloaded a copy, in exchange for some 'personal/company' details.
Yes sir! How may I help?
Without posting it, I read the EULA and found in it no trace of any limitation like the one you posted about.
IF the good guys @Accessdata actually believe that it has meanings in the sense you posted (and no, *anything*, including their word for it, written documents mailed to you, your own word for it and pages on a website or on a forum to that effect - if any- do not count. ONLY what is written in the shrink-wrap/click-wrap License may have some legal validity.) they should IMHO re-word the EULA to that effect, possibly in clearer, simpler words.
I meant that an "often ignored fact" needs to be a fact, before being ignored (often or seldom) wink
jaclaz
Yes sir! How may I help?
Without posting it, I read the EULA and found in it no trace of any limitation like the one you posted about.
IF the good guys @Accessdata actually believe that it has meanings in the sense you posted (and no, *anything*, including their word for it, written documents mailed to you, your own word for it and pages on a website or on a forum to that effect - if any- do not count. ONLY what is written in the shrink-wrap/click-wrap License may have some legal validity.) they should IMHO re-word the EULA to that effect, possibly in clearer, simpler words.
I meant that an "often ignored fact" needs to be a fact, before being ignored (often or seldom) wink
jaclaz
like what I posted above, if you look at the EULA, who is the Licensee and who are authorized users? And another question, can you claim yourself the Licensee at the time you download the installation file from accessdata.com.
AUTHORIZED USERS. The Software may be used by all employees of Licensee’s organization at facilities governed by Licensee.
"often ignored fact"…… I said my company used to be a AD reseller, and that was an official reply from AD years (around 3) ago. But, I cannot guarantee what the license would be like right now. I suggest if you are still doubted, go ahead and ask AD and everyone will be happy to have the answer including me
Hi,
We want to use FTK imager for our Investigations cases but as it is a free software we are not sur that the proof collected through FTK Imager it will be accepted by the courts.
I was questioning AccesData and they say "Yes it will be accepted in court", but they do not send any proof or reference to lean on. If anybody have any reference. If it is from Canada it will be even better.
Is the answer of AccesData enough?
Even if anybody have other information, it would be very appreciate.
Thank you in advance.
Hi all,
As a newbie in the forum and in the practice of forensic I needed to be sure that a proof with a free tool as “FTK Imager” will be accepted in courts. So, it is the reason of my post.
I received very interesting answers and opinions, so it is my time to send that I have.
Initially, when I downloaded "FTK Imager", I read the User Guide and it said " Registration The AccessData product registration is done at AccessData after à purchase is made, and before the product is shipped.
Subscription AccessData provides a one-year licensing subscription with all new product purchase."
So, I mailed AccessData questioning about those paragraphs and they answered Is it free? Etc. etc….
Answer of AccessDATA" Yes FTK Imager is free. You don't need a license to use it."
Afterthat somebody posted about the right to use “FTK Imager” so I re mailed them
Question "May I have right to use at work, professionally, "FTK imager" if I DID NOT BUY FTK TOOLKIT?"
Answer of accessData
"Yes you may. FTK imager is a free product and you do not need permission to use it. Anyone can use it for free."
I always think that “nothing good is free” but it is an exception. D
Thanks all
Danalex
Ps Sorry for my English, but I am Spanish native that work in French.
Hi,
We want to use FTK imager for our Investigations cases but as it is a free software we are not sur that the proof collected through FTK Imager it will be accepted by the courts.
I was questioning AccesData and they say "Yes it will be accepted in court", but they do not send any proof or reference to lean on. If anybody have any reference. If it is from Canada it will be even better.
Is the answer of AccesData enough?
Even if anybody have other information, it would be very appreciate.
Thank you in advance.
Hi all,
As a newbie in the forum and in the practice of forensic I needed to be sure that a proof with a free tool as “FTK Imager” will be accepted in courts. So, it is the reason of my post.
I received very interesting answers and opinions, so it is my time to send that I have.
Initially, when I downloaded "FTK Imager", I read the User Guide and it said " Registration The AccessData product registration is done at AccessData after à purchase is made, and before the product is shipped.
Subscription AccessData provides a one-year licensing subscription with all new product purchase."
So, I mailed AccessData questioning about those paragraphs and they answered Is it free? Etc. etc….
Answer of AccessDATA" Yes FTK Imager is free. You don't need a license to use it."Afterthat somebody posted about the right to use “FTK Imager” so I re mailed them
Question "May I have right to use at work, professionally, "FTK imager" if I DID NOT BUY FTK TOOLKIT?"
Answer of accessData
"Yes you may. FTK imager is a free product and you do not need permission to use it. Anyone can use it for free."I always think that “nothing good is free” but it is an exception. D
Thanks all
Danalex
Ps Sorry for my English, but I am Spanish native that work in French.
That is absolutely a good news for us, but it would be good if AD can post the license terms up on their download page. Otherwise it would still be a hearsay.
I suggest if you are still doubted, go ahead and ask AD and everyone will be happy to have the answer including me
Yep, the point I was raising was slightly different, I personally have no doubts about the product being of free use, and cannot find - notwithstanding your anecdotical report (which I anyway do appreciate ) ) - any possible way to read the EULA as stating that it is not so.
jaclaz
FTK is about the slowest imager out there. free doesnt make it the best choice!
By now one could have used about half dozen alternate solutions.