Agape Blog

Online chatting is gained much appreciation amongst the youngsters early-on. But chatting online has become a very important means of communication as more and more people are using it for their official & personal works. And that means loads of digital evidence. As an examiner, you need a specialized tool to perform a thorough analysis of chat logs. Paraben’s Chat Examiner is a specialized forensic product that will will always be a must for you forensic toolkit. Chat Examiner supports ICQ, Yahoo, MSN, Trillian, Skype, Hello and Miranda. Some other basic features of the same are:

1. Compatible with Paraben’s P2 Examination Technology
2. Supports ICQ 1999-2003b, Yahoo, MSN 6.1, 6.2, 7.0, & 7.5, Trillian, Skype, Hello, & Miranda Chat Logs
3. Auto-search function helps locate Chat Logs
4. Complete bookmarking and reporting functionality
5. Advanced filtering and searching options
6. Open multiple chat databases in one workspace

Either a good way to conceal data, or an under-utilised way of compressing information when sending it alongside images - either way, Steganography is a neat idea. Sadly, generally used for nefarious purposes.

Alex Kelleher’s blog explains more.

As i do it every Friday by posting some useful links which can help someone looking for solutions in the forensic space. So here are today’s links covering some articles and news related to password protection, data recovery and examining the digital evidences.

1. How to prevent Password cracking? Read More

2. Tips for examiners while analysing Digital evidences. Read More

3. Data recovery tips and regulations. Read More

The University of Alabama at Birmingham is warning computer users of a new spam scam! E-mail is vastly used to stay connected with other people by sharing information and this has been the target of spammers since a long time. Of course, forensic experts  helped in nabbing many cyber space criminals. But as forensic science is advancing, so are the spammers.

They create emails that look normal, but instead of taking you to the body of the email, it takes you to the malware. These are not phishing emails, which ask for your bank account or credit card details, etc. These are of a different type referred as “drive-by infectors”. Usually, the links provided in the email open a pop up which will tell you that your computer is infected. To help you out, it will take you to an anti-virus website, which is deceiving and instead takes you to a malware.

The latest exploitable target for the spammers is - Media. And the latest example is CNN being targeted by spammers. Basically spammers have cloned the news alert the same way that we get breaking news from CNN.

Forensic experts suggest that if you do not trust any email, the easiest way to double check is to log on to the source website mentioned in the email. Also, you should be on the lookout for suspicious emails cluttering your inbox.

Given below are some useful links to articles, which will highlight the importance of data recovery, digital forensics and tips to prevent credit card fraud.

1. An article describing PC Pandora’s monitoring software that presents full visual and documented recording of everything that happens on the machine.
Read more.

2. John J. Barbara explains Ethical Practices in Digital Forensics. Read more.

3. Ways to Avoid Credit Card Fraud. Read more.

Scientists have come up with a new method that uses X-rays to detect microscopic corrosion caused by the chemicals in fingerprint residue. It works on bullet casings and machine guns. Generally the heat evolved while firing vapourises normal clues. But now the detectives will be able to prove who handled and loaded a gun, even after cleaning.

Dr. John Bond developed this technique along with some forensic researchers at the Leicester University. He said “For the first time we can get prints from people who handled a cartridge before it was fired. Wiping it down, washing it in hot soapy water makes no difference - and the heat of the shot helps the process we use.”

Cases dating back decades could be reopened because the underlying print never disappears. Hundreds of gun crime files could now be re-examined. This process can be used for other cases where prints are on metal.

To fight the ever increasing threat of cyber crime, Simon Fraser University launched a research centre. The university says that battling child pornography is their immediate task. Apart from this the centre will also do research on criminal harassment through the Internet, money laundering, economic crimes and computer viruses.

The Canadian government has already alloted $350,000 to help set up and operate the centre, as well as secure data and purchase lab equipment. Also the government is happy that the centre will help in detecting and reducing cyber crime.

Its a great moment for us to announce the launch of our Mobile Forensic Lab.

We are the first ones to implement the concept of mobile cyber forensic lab which is available 24 * 7 for assistance in a cyber forensic scene. Also with this launch, it becomes India’s first cyber & mobile forensic lab on wheels. It has all the necessary tools and softwares which can help in investigating a case at the crime site.

Given below are images of the super equipped lab.