I think the posts to this thread over the past day or so really do a good job of covering the important issues here and I'm very encouraged by that.
Jonathan makes a fair point regarding the discussion of sensitive issues. I think we're all agreed that members need to employ a degree of common sense when posting in an open forum (or even to a restricted forum, for that matter). My hope is that where there is a need for greater security we can at least provide a springboard for that by enabling members to communicate privately or by directing them to other forums or organisations which are able to facilitate their needs.
I think the bottom line is that Forensic Focus isn't going to be all things to all people all of the time, but where there's a need for discussion or expertise which isn't appropriate for public disclosure we can point people in the right direction.
Jamie
I agree with Jamie…public or private, lists are what they are. Most, if not all, of the lists that I'm familiar with have membership lists of varying sizes, but only a very small core group of contributors. It's a fact, and I'll admit that I've had a great deal of trouble accepting that…I'm still trying. I guess I just find it hard to believe that with so many doing work (or claiming to) in this field, so few have anything at all to contribute. And by "contribute" I don't mean tools, but even so much as a couple of paragraphs on some analysis that was performed.
H
Oooh, don't get me started! Trying to get people to write for the articles/papers page is very hard cry
I have to ask the question, although I suppose it's probably better asked in a new thread…would people prefer (another) wiki?
Apologies for going a bit off-topic oops
Jamie
> Trying to get people to write…
Right, I hear you. Even book publishers have the same problem…and that's with *paying* people to write, or even read!
> …would people prefer (another) wiki?
I'm sure some would. Many folks aren't aware of the resources that are already available (there are already two wikis specific to computer forensics), and have no desire to ask or search. I see this all the time, not only in forums such as this but also when asking folks what they'd like to see in a particular book…100% of the time, some of the things folks want to see are already available in at least two other resources.
I'd rather improve what we have than create something else.
Are UK CF professionals happy discussing the finer details of grading pictures showing child pornograhpy using the Sentencing Advisory Panel guidelines in an open forum?
I'm sure that the vast majority (if not everyone) here have no interest in having such fine details shared. I'd venture to suggest that would almost be voyeurism. What's important is the fact that images were hidden in some way or accessed via e-mail or the internet and I think the mechanism of exposing that is what should be shared openly, rather than what's actually contained in the images.
I'm sure that experts here recognise each other's skills (they may work with them or meet them at conferences etc.) and, if there's something "delicate" to be discussed, a PM is fired off to the relevant person/folks. Isn't that an "unofficial" private forum within Forensic Focus?
Are UK CF professionals happy discussing the finer details of grading pictures showing child pornograhpy using the Sentencing Advisory Panel guidelines in an open forum?
I'm sure that the vast majority (if not everyone) here have no interest in having such fine details shared. I'd venture to suggest that would almost be voyeurism. What's important is the fact that images were hidden in some way or accessed via e-mail or the internet and I think the mechanism of exposing that is what should be shared openly, rather than what's actually contained in the images.
I'm sure that experts here recognise each other's skills (they may work with them or meet them at conferences etc.) and, if there's something "delicate" to be discussed, a PM is fired off to the relevant person/folks. Isn't that an "unofficial" private forum within Forensic Focus?
I think you misunderstood a little - there is debate about what constitutes what level; 5s can be interpreted as 2s and vice versa and even 5s with 1s with the most recent advice from the S.A.P. Why would discussion and advice in this area between fellow professionals be considered 'voyeuristic' when it is a main and important part of our jobs?
I think you misunderstood a little - there is debate about what constitutes what level; 5s can be interpreted as 2s and vice versa and even 5s with 1s with the most recent advice from the S.A.P. Why would discussion and advice in this area between fellow professionals be considered 'voyeuristic' when it is a main and important part of our jobs?
I don't know the details of the guidelines so don't know what degree of child pornography correlates with the levels that you quoted. When you mentioned "finer details of grading pictures", I assumed that meant describing the content of the pictures to give them a particular grade and that's what I meant by "voyeurism". I would agree that this sort of detail is not for an open forum (but suited to a PM), rather the mechanisms of exposure of this material, hidden on a hard drive, USB flash drive etc. would be for an open forum.
As a keen amateur, I'm keen to learn techniques from the experts here but I don't want access to the data to which you're exposed.
if this forum is goin to be made private or whatever i suggest taking into account academics and students on forensics courses at university such as myself. this forum has provided me with invaluable knowledge and hopefully will continue to do so, but if information is withheld for whatever reason then i also think it would defeat the point of this forum which i assume is to provide a resource for LE, students, etc.
alan
if this forum is goin to be made private or whatever i suggest taking into account academics and students on forensics courses at university such as myself. this forum has provided me with invaluable knowledge and hopefully will continue to do so, but if information is withheld for whatever reason then i also think it would defeat the point of this forum which i assume is to provide a resource for LE, students, etc.
alan
Ditto. I'm a student as well and this place has been a huge resource of information.
Derrick
> if this forum is goin to be made private or whatever
I don't get it. In reading Jamie's posts, I think he made it pretty clear that this *isn't* going to happen…so why even bring it up?