Greetings,
I would be happy to pay for it, and did give e-fense $200 to that end. I asked on the support forums for one thing - please put TrueCrypt back in to the release. I was told "It'll happen in the next few days." It didn't. And I kept checking - still not there.
Now I am asked to pay, again, for access to Helix, with no assurances that the one thing I need will get done.
So I am actively looking around for a product that will meet my needs, and I'm willing to pay for it, and am actively reading the reviews on here to help me make a decision on how best to spend our funds.
-David
http//
"By publishing source code through open source extraction tools, the digital forensic community can examine and validate the procedures used to produce digital evidence. This model allows an accurate error rate to be calculated because all data extraction related bug fixes would be made public. If multiple tools used the same code base for data extraction, one could develop a stable code base and test methodology fairly quickly. Furthermore, the tools would have a similar error rate because the only difference would be because of bugs in their interface and presentation of data.
Digital forensics is a maturing science that needs to be continuously held to higher standards. The procedures used should be clearly published, reviewed, and debated. The availability of analysis tools to the general public has likely increased their quality and usability. The next step is to increase confidence in the tools through publication, review, and formal testing."
- Brian Carrier
Well keep in mind, a lot of the tools that you say you have come to rely on, and would like to pay for, weren't created by the helix team; rather included with the live linux distro. Those tools will remain free from their creators/authors and can still be implemented in your daily routines at no charge. If the convenience of the live linux disc incorporating all of those tools in one place is what you've come to like, then by all means, the subscription to that service is the way to go.
For me, there are a few tools that I like to use on occasion that I don't need to rely on helix for, I can download free from others, including original authors. Therefore, for me (not everyone necessarily), not subscribing is no big deal. It is disappointing though that the option wont be there anymore unless I pay.
Before I offer a more in-depth reply on this thread I have a simple question
What in life that has value is free?
Cheers!
farmerdude
I value my free time very highly 😉
Before I offer a more in-depth reply on this thread I have a simple question
What in life that has value is free?
Life itself is free, isn't it? D
This is however a very, very old discussion… But I think (and I am not alone) that FLOSS have a great inner value.
And I also think that, in this time of economic crisis, something free is to keep really on consideration…
Sorry for my bad english!
The reality of it is that nothing of value is free. Not air, not water, not food, not shelter, and as per this topic not forensic applications.
Helix was never free. The developers spent their time developing their product and making it available at a cost to them. The users spent their time downloading the ISO file, burning it, and learning how to use the product at a cost to them.
For both developer and user there was a financial cost, whether either viewed the cost as direct or indirect was discretionary.
Dr. Fred Cohen was spot on when he said to a few of us in a discussion late at night at some conference (I paraphrase) many years back never, ever, give away something for free for which you could and should charge for. For if you give it away for free, and then one day hope to charge for it, the backlash will be strong.
I think what he said certainly applies to this topic. I was amazed (not really, but somewhat ) ) that folks have stated they'll no longer use Helix because it has a direct, up front financial cost now. And they further state their usage of the product for _years_ in real _work_ (for which we can presume they receive renumeration for this work). Are we to interpret that the mere fact the product now has a direct up-front financial cost means the value has been lost?!?! Its value was solely based upon the fact that there was no (perceived) direct financial cost for usage?
Walking onto thin ice I quietly say trivializing a Linux boot CD does not show intelligence nor awareness. While it is not difficult to install applications and run a remaster script to create an ISO file, it is certainly more difficult and time consuming to; design, optimize, and configure an environment for maximum benefit to forensic practitioners. And please note that I am not advocating that Helix fits these criteria. Not all Linux boot CDs are equal, even those oriented toward forensics. Step beyond the laundry list of installed applications and look under the cover. You may find that many, many man hours, thought, and experience went into the finished product. Whether you chose to pay for that or not is your choice.
Cheers!
farmerdude
If you are missing Helix there are other alternatives.
I have seen the farmers boot CD in action and I can confirm it is excellent (see farmerdude posting above).
For preference I use the
FarmerDude, define free, until we have clear boundaries here we can't even begin to answer your post about 'free'.
Really? Define "free"?
I think my post defines "free" pretty good. However, if further definition of "free" is required, simply read Merriam Webster online and take the 10th definition "not costing or charging anything".
Does this define "free" enough so that you can begin to answer my post about "free"?
Cheers!
farmerdude