Forensic Focus

Si and Desi are joined by Brittany and Ailsa from digital forensics software company ADF Solutions. They discuss how ADF is addressing key challenges for digital forensics practitioners, including handling the massive volumes of data from mobile devices and the cloud.

The guests outline ADF's focus on developing their software as an easy-to-use onsite triage tool that can help quickly identify pertinent evidence. Key features include advanced handling of video files, AI-assisted classification of images, and new screen recording capabilities for mobile devices that allow suspects to safely share relevant data.

The hosts and guests also explore ADF's ongoing research into areas like facial recognition, handling new device types like games consoles and smart watches, and identifying deepfake media.

00:00 – Introduction to Ailsa and Brittany

03:00 – The challenge of vast amounts of data

05:50 – Recovering data from Chromebooks

08:50 – Triaging using ADF tools

12:30 – Benefits of using ADF Solutions’ tools

15:50 – Limitations in types of apps

17:20 – Keeping up with technological advancements

19:15 – ADF customer base

21:00 - Artificial intelligence in classifying images

30:00 – ADF Solutions’ triaging kit

37:00 – Training with ADF

40:00 – Target user

44:50 – Roadmap of future devices to examine

51:30 – Main focus for ADF Solutions going forwards

Show Notes:

AI-generated CSAM article on Sky News - https://news.sky.com/story/thousands-of-ai-generated-child-abuse-images-being-shared-online-research-finds-12991727

Si and Desi interview Emi Polito from Amped about how to become an Amped FIVE Certified Examiner (AFCE). They discuss the exam requirements and format, as well as Amped’s future plans. Emi explains that the certification is aimed at demonstrating competency with the Amped FIVE video analysis software after completing training. The exam consists of multiple choice questions on theory and practical exercises using the software. Emi talks about the online exam format and process for passing or failing.

Emi also discusses the broader challenges many organizations face with validation and accreditation. He emphasizes Amped's commitment to developing tools that facilitate that process. The hosts reflect on the confusing accreditation landscape and Amped’s passion for improving training and certification in forensics. This episode provides an overview of Amped's new certification and perspective on challenges in the field of video forensics.

Show Notes:

Introducing The AFCE Certification (Amped FIVE Certified Examiner) - https://www.forensicfocus.com/news/introducing-the-afce-certification-amped-five-certified-examiner/

Video Evidence Principles With Amped Software - https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/video-evidence-principles-with-amped-software/

Digital Image Authenticity And Integrity With Amped Authenticate - https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/digital-image-authenticity-and-integrity-with-amped-authenticate/

File Analysis And DVR Conversion Training From Amped Software - https://www.forensicfocus.com/reviews/file-analysis-and-dvr-conversion-training-from-amped-software/

Amped FIVE Speed Estimation 2d Filter And Training From Amped Software - https://www.forensicfocus.com/reviews/amped-five-speed-estimation-2d-filter-and-training-from-amped-software/

Amped Software’s Martino Jerian on Key Challenges and Opportunities for Video Evidence - https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/amped-softwares-martino-jerian-on-key-challenges-and-opportunities-for-video-evidence/

LEVA 2023 Training Symposium - https://www.leva.org/

Forensic Collision Investigation & Reconstruction Ltd - https://www.fcir.co.uk/

Amped FIVE Certified Examiner - https://ampedsoftware.com/afce-certification

Introducing the Amped FIVE Certification Program - https://blog.ampedsoftware.com/2023/10/04/introducing-the-amped-five-certification-program

Amped Software YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/ampedsoftware

How to Use the Validation Tool in Amped FIVE - https://blog.ampedsoftware.com/2023/03/29/how-to-use-the-validation-tool-in-amped-five

Si and Desi talk to Gavin Prue and Selim Kang about their non-traditional paths into cybersecurity careers. They share their diverse educational backgrounds, from vocational college courses to returning to school later in life, and the hands-on training that helped prepare them for incident response roles.

Gavin and Selim provide advice for aspiring cybersecurity professionals on the importance of networking, asking questions, having a positive attitude, and being willing to put in extra time learning new skills. They discuss the value of university degrees versus certifications, the pros and cons of accredited cybersecurity programs, and the need for continued education in this rapidly evolving field. Whether starting from scratch or changing careers, their stories demonstrate that resilience and motivation can overcome lack of formal qualifications.

Si and Desi talk to Eva Galperin, Director of Cybersecurity at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and Emma Pickering, Head of Tech and Economic Abuse at Refuge. They discuss the impact of digital forensics and incident response (DFIR) in cases of domestic abuse. They highlight the prevalence of tech-enabled abuse, such as the use of stalkerware, and the need for comprehensive support and safety plans for survivors.

They also talk about the challenges faced by law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting these cases, as well as the importance of training and awareness in addressing tech-enabled abuse. The conversation emphasizes the need for collaboration between organizations, tech developers, and law enforcement to effectively combat domestic abuse.

Show Notes:

Apple Support: How Safety Check on iPhone works to keep you safe - 

https://support.apple.com/guide/personal-safety/how-safety-check-works-ips2aad835e1/web

IBM: Five Technology Design Principles to Combat Domestic Abuse - https://www.ibm.com/policy/five-technology-design-principles-to-combat-domestic-abuse/

EFF: Today The UK Parliament Undermined The Privacy, Security, And Freedom Of All Internet Users - https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/09/today-uk-parliament-undermined-privacy-security-and-freedom-all-internet-users

Wesley Mission: More support to help escape family violence - https://www.wesleymission.org.au/about-us/what-we-do/helping-people-most-in-need/housing-and-accommodation/wesley-emergency-relief/more-support-to-help-escape-family-violence/

Refuge: How we can help you - https://refuge.org.uk/i-need-help-now/how-we-can-help-you/

Electronic Frontier Foundation - https://www.eff.org/

Si and Desi interview Lee Reiber, CEO of Oxygen Forensics. Lee provides an overview of Oxygen's tools for extracting data from mobile devices, cloud services, and computers to aid digital investigations. He talks about Oxygen's training program that is now included with their software to train examiners to become skilled investigators.

Lee also shares insights on overcoming hurdles like encryption and multifactor authentication in mobile forensics. He stresses that there is always a way to get needed data from mobile devices. Lee additionally talks about the vetting process Oxygen uses to ensure their tools are used ethically and explains how Oxygen adapts quickly to help law enforcement with urgent cases.

Join Desi and Si as they chat with Rob Fried, a digital forensics expert, author, and licensed private investigator. In this episode, Rob discusses the upcoming 2023 E-Crime Symposium: Cutting Edge Topics in Digital Forensics, taking place virtually on 31st October 2023.

The symposium will feature keynote talks and panel discussions exploring e-crimes and criminal investigations. Topics include Mobile Device Investigations, Cryptocurrency Investigations, and Forensic Fundamentals in Innovation.

Rob also discusses his background, career, and passion for writing and sharing knowledge in the forensics field. He talks about the value of collaboration and giving back through events like the symposium and authoring books for students and practitioners.

Show Notes:

2023 E-Crime Symposium: Cutting Edge Topics In Digital Forensics - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2023-e-crime-symposium-cutting-edge-topics-in-digital-forensics-tickets-698455237417?aff=oddtdtcreator

Rob Fried's website - https://forensicsbyfried.com

PI Magazine - https://pimagazine.com

Ryan joins Si and Desi to discuss his research into SS7 hacking and cell phone tracking. As someone passionate about radio technology, Ryan became interested in cell networking and eventually discovered he could intercept calls and texts by building fake cell towers. He learned that phone users have virtually no ability to opt out of their locations and identifiers being commercially available via simple API calls. Ryan hopes to put this knowledge to good use by developing a system to warn domestic abuse shelters if an offender's phone is near by tracking SS7 data.

During the technical discussion, Ryan demonstrates querying an API with his own phone number to retrieve subscriber data and location. The hosts consider how individuals could possibly protect themselves from SS7 exploits, such as avoiding SMS authentication. They also discuss Ryan's other projects exploring radio hacking tools and a magazine shining light on digital counterculture topics. 

Si and Desi are joined by Professor Sarah Morris, Digital Forensics Academic and Practitioner, to talk about DFIR at Southampton University, and Sarah’s innovative approach to lecturing. 

They explore a range of topics, from electronic storage detection using robots, to strength-testing Faraday bags. They also venture into the realm of forensics in unexpected places, like unravelling mysteries hidden within a washing machine.

Plus, Sarah offers a rare insider's perspective on the biometrics and forensics ethics group, an advisory non-departmental public body sponsored by the Home Office.

Si is joined by Martino Jerian, CEO and Founder of Amped Software, and Eugene Liscio, 3D Forensic Analyst at ai2-3D. They discuss Martino’s recent presentation on video evidence principles to the European Parliament.

Martino explains the difference between authenticity and integrity when it comes to video evidence, and explores the often necessary role of editing in producing a more accurate representation of reality, such as when correcting lens distortion.

In this complex field, our guests emphasize the critical need for maintaining a precise, repeatable, and reproducible workflow, aligning with best practices and established guidelines. They also discuss how judges and juries can easily be mislead by expert witnesses, and the resultant importance of presenting technical information in an accurate but accessible way.

Furthermore, for those curious about a career in video forensics, the trio provides practical insights into the qualifications, training, and experience that can guide you on this path.

Show Notes:

Video Evidence Principles: Presentation at the European Parliament - https://blog.ampedsoftware.com/2023/06/01/video-evidence-principles-presentation-at-the-european-parliament

3D Forensics | ai2-3D | Ontario - https://www.ai2-3d.com/

3D Forensics YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@3Dforensics

Digital Image Authenticity And Integrity With Amped Authenticate - https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/digital-image-authenticity-and-integrity-with-amped-authenticate/

Amped Software’s Martino Jerian on Key Challenges and Opportunities for Video Evidence - https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/amped-softwares-martino-jerian-on-key-challenges-and-opportunities-for-video-evidence/

Amped Replay Explained: A Detective’s Review Of The Enhanced Video Player For Forensic Investigations - https://www.forensicfocus.com/reviews/amped-replay-explained-a-detectives-review-of-the-enhanced-video-player-for-forensic-investigations/

Amped FIVE Speed Estimation 2d Filter And Training From Amped Software - https://www.forensicfocus.com/reviews/amped-five-speed-estimation-2d-filter-and-training-from-amped-software/

File Analysis And DVR Conversion Training From Amped Software - https://www.forensicfocus.com/reviews/file-analysis-and-dvr-conversion-training-from-amped-software/

Liverpool John Moores University - https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/courses/postgraduates/2023/36596-audio-and-video-forensics-msc

Si and Desi recap the European Interdisciplinary Cybersecurity Conference (EICC) 2023, which hosted a range of talks and discussions on fields related to cybersecurity. 

Si highlights some of the talks he found most interesting, including those on the following topics: 

• Research conducted at the University of Kent on the prevalence of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in the DarkWeb, including differences between English- and Chinese-language marketplaces
• Tracking vehicles and anonymising personal data in a way that still allows useful statistical analysis
• Conversion of malware binaries into visual images, allowing for the detection of malware families and programs by visual analysis
• Detecting device fingerprinting on iOS with API function hooking
• Age classification from images, including potential challenges, theoretical uses and current accuracy levels
• Machine learning and cybersecurity

The duo also discuss what's coming next on the Forensic Focus podcast. 

Show Notes: 

European Interdisciplinary Cybersecurity Conference: https://www.fvv.um.si/eicc2023/

Proceedings of the 2023 European Interdisciplinary Cybersecurity Conference: https://dl.acm.org/doi/proceedings/10.1145/3590777

Conference program: https://www.fvv.um.si/eicc2023/static/docs/EICC2023_program.pdf

Improving file-level fuzzy hashes for malware variant classification: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1742287619300283

Si and Desi talk to Ryan Parthemore, Product Evangelist at Cellebrite, and Robert Fried, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Forensics Investigations at Sandline Solutions.

They discuss best practices and compliance frameworks to ensure the admissibility of digital evidence at trial. They highlight the foundational principles of repeatability, reproducibility, and justifiability in the field of digital forensics.

Drawing on their own real-life experiences, they emphasize the importance of defensible investigations and illustrate how proper methodologies can protect the chain of custody and ensure the reliability of the digital evidence.

Si and Desi talk to Monica Harris, Project Business Manager at Cellebrite, about current eDiscovery challenges. They cover some of the reoccurring pain points customers experience during the integration stage, the difficulties of collecting mobile data for investigations, and the development of legal holds and how they influence digital forensic cases.

This episode also touches on the role of machine learning in eDiscovery and how large amounts of data can be reformatted for the review stage of a case.

In this episode of the Forensic Focus podcast, Desi and Si discuss different online programming courses and what they think about the popular platform, Udemy. They also talk about Flipper, Dev boards, and Raspberry Pi, and delve into the fascinating phenomenon of running the classic game Doom on unlikely devices.

Throughout the episode, Desi and Si share their digital forensics expertise, referencing some of the cases they have been working on and highlighting particular methodologies and technologies that have an impact on cybersecurity.

Show Notes:

100 Days of Code: The Complete Python Pro Bootcamp for 2023 - https://www.udemy.com/course/100-days...

Domestika - https://www.domestika.org/en

MIT OpenCourseWare - https://www.youtube.com/@mitocw 

MasterClass - https://www.masterclass.com/

Raspberry Pi 400 Complete Kit - https://core-electronics.com.au/raspb...

Flipper Discord - https://discord.com/invite/flipper

Flipper Zero - https://flipperzero.one/

This Programmer Figured Out How to Play Doom on a Pregnancy Test - https://www.popularmechanics.com/scie...

Here’s a dude playing Doom Eternal on his fridge - https://www.polygon.com/2020/10/13/21... 

Doom hacker gets Doom running in Doom - https://www.pcgamer.com/doom-hacker-g...

Doom Running On A Calculator Powered By Old Potatoes - https://kotaku.com/doom-running-on-a-...

GoldenEra - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11753760/

Racing the Beam - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racing_...

High Score (TV series) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Sc...)

Microcontroller Courses (Udemy) - https://www.udemy.com/topic/microcont...

The story of Final Fantasy XIV’s renegade do-good modders - https://www.pcgamesn.com/final-fantas...

Logical fallacies - https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/

In this episode of the Forensic Focus podcast, Si and Desi talk to Mackenzie Jackson, Developer Advocate at Git Guardian.

Mackenzie discusses the problem of hard-coded and leaked credentials in Git repositories, the task of scanning Git repositories for leaked credentials, and how that’s helped by the setup of GitHub and Git.

He also looks at some public and private cases of security breaches through Git repositories and recommends tools you can use to combat attackers on Git.

Show Notes:

Toyota Suffered a Data Breach by Accidentally Exposing A Secret Key Publicly On GitHub (GitGuardian) - https://blog.gitguardian.com/toyota-a...

GitHub.com rotates its exposed private SSH key (Bleeping Computer) - https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news...

Conpago - https://www.conpago.com.au/

Source Code as a Vulnerability - A Deep Dive into the Real Security Threats From the Twitch Leak (GitGuardian) - https://blog.gitguardian.com/security...

Teenagers Leveraging Insider Threats: Lapsus$ Hacker Group (Forbes) - https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilsaye...

Lapsus$: Oxford teen accused of being multi-millionaire cyber-criminal (BBC) - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology...

Dynamic Secrets (HashiCorp) - https://developer.hashicorp.com/vault...

Crappy code, crappy Copilot. GitHub Copilot is writing vulnerable code and it could be your fault (GitGuardian) - https://blog.gitguardian.com/crappy-c...

trufflesecurity/trufflehog (GitHub) - https://github.com/trufflesecurity/tr...

gitleaks/gitleaks (GitHub) - https://github.com/gitleaks/gitleaks

Git (Wikipedia) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Git

awslabs/git-secrets (GitHub) - https://github.com/awslabs/git-secrets

In this episode of the Forensic Focus podcast, Si and Desi are joined by Marco Fontani from Amped Software. Together, they delve into the world of digital image forensics and discuss the use of Amped Authenticate.

Amped Authenticate can be used to uncover the processing history of a digital image, helping to determine whether it can be used as reliable evidence in a court of law. Today’s episode looks at the challenges involved in analysing pictures downloaded from the web or social media platforms, the impact of AI-based processing during capture on modern smartphones, and Authenticate's ability to assist with triage, allowing investigators to quickly filter through large amounts of data to find relevant evidence.

Show Notes:

Amped Authenticate (Amped Software) - https://ampedsoftware.com/authenticate

Samsung’s Moon Shots Force Us to Ask How Much AI Is Too Much (WIRED) - https://www.wired.co.uk/article/samsu...

A Leak in PRNU Based Source Identification—Questioning Fingerprint Uniqueness (IEEE Xplore) - https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/...

Is PRNU Camera Identification Still Reliable? Tests on Modern Smartphones Show We May Need a New Strategy! (Amped Software) - https://blog.ampedsoftware.com/2020/0...

Dealing with Deepfakes (Amped Software) - https://blog.ampedsoftware.com/2021/0...

NVIDIA Broadcast 1.4 Adds Eye Contact and Vignette Effects With Virtual Background Enhancements (GeForce) - https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/...

The Face Deepfake Detection Challenge (MDPI) - https://www.mdpi.com/2313-433X/8/10/263

In this episode of the Forensic Focus podcast, Si and Desi recap the 18th International Conference on Cyber Warfare and Security (ICCWS).

Desi shares his top picks of the best talks, which explore a range of topics, from forensic investigations on Github breaches and blockchain forensics to deepfake technology and network forensics on submarines.

They also take a look at LockBit ransomware investigations and examine whether or not there has been a resurgence in 'script kiddies'.

Show Notes:

ICCWS 2024 program: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1u_ajyuxeZ5Hi-989nw50KxI5tTMnKPylhg47fVTp9pk

ICCWS 2023 papers (including book): https://papers.academic-conferences.org/index.php/iccws

In this episode of the Forensic Focus podcast, Si and Desi explore how artificial intelligence is being leveraged to uncover crucial evidence in investigations involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and examine the importance of exercising caution when implementing these tools.

They also discuss a recent murder case in which cyber experts played a vital role in securing a conviction, and explore the unique challenges associated with using digital evidence as an alibi.

In this episode of the Forensic Focus podcast, Si and Desi explore the cutting-edge technology of deepfake videos and image manipulation. In addition to discussing the latest technological developments and efforts being made to detect manipulated media, they also examine the associated legal and ethical implications.

Show notes:

Boris Johnson image - https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jan/10/spot-the-difference-boris-johnson-appears-scrubbed-from-photo-posted-by-grant-shapps

Deep Fake Neighbour Wars - https://m.imdb.com/title/tt21371376/

Stalin image - https://www.history.com/news/josef-stalin-great-purge-photo-retouching

Nvidia eye contact AI - https://www.polygon.com/23571376/nvidia-broadcast-eye-contact-ai and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl87WTDrReo

Birthday problem - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birthday_problem

Same frightening woman in AI images - https://petapixel.com/2022/09/09/the-same-frightening-woman-keeps-appearing-in-ai-generated-images/

Inherent mysogeny of AI portraits - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/dec/09/lensa-ai-portraits-misogyny

Midjourney - https://www.midjourney.org/

Deepfake porn legality - https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/25/23477548/uk-deepfake-porn-illegal-offence-online-safety-bill-proposal and https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/02/12/1018222/deepfake-revenge-porn-coming-ban/

AIATSIS - https://aiatsis.gov.au/cultural-sensitivity

Fake tiger porn story - https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/tiger-porn-britain-law/

Group photo with no blinking - https://www.countrylife.co.uk/comment-opinion/curious-questions-group-photo-179102

Emma Watson deefake audio - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ai-4chan-emma-watson-mein-kampf-elevenlabs-9wghsmt9c

Domestika - https://www.domestika.org/en/courses/981-introduction-to-interviewing-the-art-of-conversation

Investigative Interviewing - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0199681899?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Forensic Focus events calendar - https://www.forensicfocus.com/events/

Si Twitter - https://twitter.com/si_biles

In this episode, Si and Desi talk to Matt Suiche from Magnet Forensics about the rise of e-crime and info stealers.

They look at the latest shifts in how cybercriminals are operating, with a lot of ransomware gangs now moving towards hacking, stealing, extortion and leaking documents, rather than blindly encrypting files.  

They also examine the importance of memory forensics in trying to detect active threats within a network, and how ChatGPT – a chatbot launched by OpenAI in November last year – could be leveraged to create functioning malware.

Want to hear more from Matt? You can check out Matt's presentation "Know When to Seek Help for Memory Loss" at both the Magnet Virtual Summit and the Magnet User Summit in 2023 (register at magnetvirtualsummit.com or magnetusersummit.com).

Show notes:

dumpIT - http://www.toolwar.com/2014/01/dumpit-memory-dump-tools.html

comae - https://www.comae.com/dumpit/

Matt’s wiki - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Suiche

VMWare acquires CloudVolumes - https://blogs.vmware.com/euc/2014/08/cloudvolumes.html

Vitali Kremex - https://twitter.com/vk_intel?lang=en

ChatGPT - https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/

Magnet Virtual Summit - https://magnetvirtualsummit.com/

Magnet User Summit - https://magnetusersummit.com/

Just like your current holiday shopping for last minute presents a lot of the good stuff has gone off the shelves already. You reach to the back and find the toy nobody really wanted but it’s the thought that counts, you stare down at Si and Desi’s Holiday Special 2022 podcast. 

Please join these two as they lament over the year that was, discuss all the things they didn’t do but promise they will do them next year, query whether putting a NAS in the storage of a roller door is a good idea, and finally arrive at what they’re looking forward to bringing you in the new year. 

Show Notes:

Arduino PLC IDE - https://docs.arduino.cc/software/plc-ide

Mycroft Mark II (open source Alexa) - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/aiforeveryone/mycroft-mark-ii-the-open-voice-assistant

Christa’s new blog - https://christammiller.com/

Si’s holiday reading - https://amzn.to/3iJyGrR

Desi’s holiday reading -  https://inteltechniques.com/

Strange event for the end of the year - https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/25-suspected-members-german-far-right-group-arrested-raids-prosecutors-office-2022-12-07/

Si’s wishful thinking - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXnRgXclLd0

Si’s list to do before the EOY - https://intrepidcamera.co.uk/products/intrepid-4x5-camera

Desi’s list to do before EOY - https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-reset-your-phone-before-you-sell-it/

“Cleaning your office” - https://www.manfrotto.com/uk-en/vintage-collapsible-1-5-x-2-1m-ink-sage-ll-lb5720/

Conference recorder - https://amzn.to/3UBmre5

Desi’s blog - https://www.hardlyadequate.com/

The investigation of child exploitation is a delicate balance between rescuing children, ensuring perpetrators are correctly identified, and safeguarding investigator mental health. This week on the Forensic Focus podcast, Christa and Si are with Cyacomb, talking digital forensics with: Jeffrey Bell, Customer Success Manager; Alan McConnell, Head of Customer Success; and Brandon Gardner, Program Manager.

As digital forensics decentralizes, shifting more responsibilities from lab to field personnel, tools that can manage the evidence from different user groups are ever more important. In this episode, Christa and Si talk with Andrew Lister, Managing Director at Detego Global, about interoperability between field and lab. They discuss Detego’s significant post-pandemic growth, what it is about interoperable frontline and lab tools that other solutions miss, and the biggest challenges when adapting a military field tool to more regulated environments.

To read Andy's previous interview with us, visit https://www.forensicfocus.com/interviews/andy-lister-global-business-development-director-detego.

This week, Christa and Si talk with Cyacomb's Graham Little and Mike Burridge about the technology it takes to identify child sexual abuse and terrorist imagery, on both devices and the online world. The balance between public safety and privacy is discussed, along with challenges faced by both social media providers preventing imagery from being shared, and law enforcement investigating the perpetrators. Also described: technological challenges and what they mean for investigations and prosecutions, including the need for training and education of users; and new developments coming from Cyacomb.

In this episode, Detective Lee Bieber of the Plantation Florida Police Department and the FBI's Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Task Force in Miami talks with podcast host Christa Miller about his background, the trends he's noticed in criminal use of digital technology, and the artifacts that make up the elements of a statutory crime. Also discussed: putting digital artifacts together into a picture using various forensic tools, and the tool that helps him most in his investigations.

You can’t put a price on bants! Friends and enemies welcome as this week Christa, Si, and Desi recap HTCIA and DFRWS. Deep dive into ticket prices and accessibility. Wonder whether there is innovation in the vendor space. Consider running their own virtual Forensic Focus conference in 2023. They briefly touch on neurodiversity, potential guests, and we all get treated to Si’s long preamble and and slightly shorter outro.

Show Notes:

DFRWS APAC 2022 Program - https://dfrws.org/apac-2022-program/

BSides AUS - https://www.bsidesau.com.au/

BSides UK - https://www.securitybsides.org.uk/#

HTCIA - https://htcia.org/

Heather Mahalik’s talk on verifying evidence

CYACOMB Prioritizing time sensitive investigations with Rapid Digital Triage - Alan McConnell

Hansken Forensics - https://www.hansken.nl/

Velociraptor - https://www.rapid7.com/products/velociraptor/

Sydney Declaration IAFS 2023 - https://iafs2023.com.au/sydney-declaration/

This week, Si and Christa talk with James Eichbaum, global training manager at MSAB, about:

• The technical and procedural challenges that students bring to class that inform R&D and, in turn, training.
• The importance of training to thorough, forensically sound examinations, as well as to educating managers and other stakeholders on why thoroughness is important.
• As well, the need and ability for examiners to be able to articulate their own processes in a rapidly changing field.
• Training for different levels of personnel, from frontline officers all the way up to the lab.
• How the COVID-19 pandemic affected training course design and delivery.
• Some of the new things to look out for in both products and training from MSAB.

Show Notes:

Our previous interview with James: https://www.forensicfocus.com/interviews/james-eichbaum-global-training-manager-msab/

Our interview with Matthew Sorell on mobile device forensics: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/university-of-adelaides-dr-matthew-sorell-on-evidentiary-health-data-at-dfrws-apac-2022/

The FORMOBILE project: https://www.formobile-project.eu/

MSAB training: https://www.msab.com/training-overview/

In this episode, Desi and Si talk with Alex Tilley, who's part of the counter threat unit at Secureworks, as a followup to Alex's presentation on the history of financial cybercrime.

Show Notes:

The business club writeup from 00:18:25 https://www.secureworks.com/research/evolution-of-the-gold-evergreen-threat-group

Fast-flux and round robin DNS

Anti-money laundering legislation https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/other-legislation/anti-money-laundering#:~:text=The%20Anti%2DMoney%20Laundering%20and,sector%2C%20gambling%20sector%2C%20remittance%20(

Operation Tovar https://www.secureworks.com/blog/operation-tovar-dell-secureworks-contributes-to-efforts-targeting-gameover-zeus-and-cryptolocker

SMBiT Pro - Presenting Gold Coast end of October https://www.smbitpro.org/

ISACA - CBR Conference https://engage.isaca.org/canberrachapter/events/eventdescription?CalendarEventKey=29ea5d1c-5ee0-4bd7-b4ce-e591603ba8b3&CommunityKey=43346d1e-8e11-443a-bfa6-93582a92ad0f&Home=%2Fmelbournechapter%2Fevents%2Fcalendar

In this episode, Steve Slater, Head of Digital Forensics at Devon and Cornwall Police in the United Kingdom, gives Christa and Si an overview of implementation the new Rape and Serious Sexual Offence protocol:

• How digital forensics technology supplements a victim-centred, team approach
• Differences between victim and suspect acquisition processes
• What goes into balancing victim care with a forensically sound data collection
• How the protocol continues to adapt to the times: not just in terms of technology, but also in recruiting representative personnel and supporting their mental health
• Pandemic-era processes and procedures

Further reading: https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/metropolitan-police-service-and-crown-prosecution-publish-review-r-v-allan https://ico.org.uk/

Following on their "unsupervised" discussion, this week Si and Desi focus on training and certification, including:

• Steps and missteps in commercial and government efforts to close the cyber skills gap through training and professional development
• The value of perspectives from different fields to digital forensics and incident response
• The shortcomings of certifications as measures of proficiency, and the need to teach a foundation of how to learn, not just pass certification exams
• Alternatives to certifications, such as chartered professionals, CTFs and coursework with practical elements
• The need for mentors to help develop professionals

CyberCX Academy announcement: https://news-events.cybercx.com.au/cybercx-academy-launched-to-help-solve-cyber-skills-crisis

Marketing fail: UK government criticised for ‘crass’ ad advising ballerina to retrain in IT: https://www.netimperative.com/2020/10/13/marketing-fail-uk-government-criticised-for-crass-ad-advising-ballerina-to-retrain-in-it/

Distant Traces and Their Use in Crime Scene Investigation: https://www.forensicfocus.com/webinars/distant-traces-and-their-use-in-crime-scene-investigation/

Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre: https://www.cybercollaboration.org.au/

dfrws.org

In this episode, Si and Christa talk with Martino Jerian, founder and CEO of Amped Software, about:

• Some of the misunderstandings around digital video and image evidence and how this can affect justice proceedings
• Technical challenges associated with evidentiary integrity and authenticity of data which is based on complex mathematics
• The need for better trained, qualified analysts in multiple dimensions of multimedia forensics, including file formats, processing, and metrology specialisms
• As well, the need for awareness-building among nontechnical stakeholders in policymaking

In this episode recorded in July, Si and Desi take advantage of Christa's absence to pepper up their speech (but only just a bit). Content warnings aside, this week their free-form conversation discusses:

• Public speaking, whether giving evidence on the stand, presenting to stakeholders following an incident response, or delivering training materials
• The relative benefits of unscripted interactions vs. scripted material, depending on audience
• How pandemic-driven modalities affected speaking delivery (and even job interviews) in terms of nonverbal (body) language, with and without cameras
• Presentation material creation tools
• The need for, and difficulty of, getting good feedback

There's also a preview of their upcoming conversation on training and certification.

Si and Christa talk with Pablo Lopez Aguilar-Beltran about Project LOCARD, its purpose, and how it all go started, including:

• Why blockchain could be the foundation for improving international cooperation while maintaining compliance with privacy and other legal requirements
• Challenges associated with standardizing any platform across borders, as well as fostering implementation and participation
• The need for better digital evidence literacy among lawyers and judges, even as the digital aspects of crime accelerate past governments' abilities to legislate and enforce laws

In this episode, co-hosts Desi, Si, and Christa compare and contrast the concerns and pressures of the DFIR world vs. other industries. Starting with burnout as a function of increases in both cyber incidents and online crime, we also discuss:

- The risks of backfilling gaps in cyber without computer science fundamentals. - More work and fewer resources leading to backlogs, which factor in burnout and resignations as well as actions like the UK barristers' strike. - The importance of mentorship, representation, and manager training to facilitate strong team dynamics and mitigate risks.

In this episode, Desi, Si, and Christa talk with Dr. Sorell about health data as a source of evidence in criminal investigations, as well as a sneak peek of what to expect at Sorell's student-led workshop and Rodeo competition at the upcoming DFRWS-APAC conference. Some of the technical vagaries, including GPS, time zone, and Apple updates, that can affect both investigations and workshop planning are discussed, along with the importance of other disciplines (geekery) to digital forensics beyond digital forensics.

In this episode, University College Dublin's Prof. Liliana Pasquale, program director for the new Master of Science in Cybersecurity, talks with Christa Miller about how the program came to be, some of the modules and the way they're structured, and what makes this program stand out from others. Also discussed is the need for a balance between academic research and practitioner perspectives, how "soft" skills lay a foundation for more technical skills, and the program's major advantages to prospective students.

Kyle Campbell, Vice-President of Litigation Support at Frontline Managed Services, joins Christa Miller to talk through the breakdown of silos between digital forensics, e-discovery, and incident response, and the continued increases in complexity and interconnectivity of data sources as well as the impact of data privacy laws and evolving case law on preservation and collection. To collaboratively solve problems and add value and insights to clients and courts in this landscape, e-discovery and digital forensics professionals need technical and communication skills in information governance, data privacy, and data security -- and the ability to explain them clearly and simply.

Broadening our podcast horizon to include more technical and global perspective, we welcome Alex Desmond, an incident response / insider threat specialist in Australia, and Si Biles, an independent digital forensics analyst in the United Kingdom.

This week, we talk about the challenges around entering and keeping up to date with a career in digital technology. Cloud systems are a particular focus, in terms of both investigations and usage, and the kinds of unanswered questions we can face as practitioners and citizens. As well, we discuss the human factors associated with cybersecurity and investigations.

Podcast host and Forensic Focus managing editor Christa Miller talks with Monica Harris, Cellebrite's Enterprise Solutions product business manager, about the overlap in e-discovery, corporate investigation, and incident response skills and tools; proportional collections in remote and hybrid work environments; some of the technological challenges with remote cloud collection and creating a 360-degree view of data, and how Cellebrite Enterprise Solutions make the process smoother.

Capacity building for digital forensics is defined as the development of new professionals and better equipped work environments, particularly as the digital forensics industry struggles to keep pace with the way technology, and the trace evidence it creates, become more ingrained in our lives. With the Forensic Focus podcast to talk about capacity building in India is Santosh Khadsare, a career cyber forensics and security expert working with Indian government and law enforcement for the past two decades.

This episode follows up our 2021 article about #DFIRfit and its #DFIRforGood fundraising efforts. We start by talking about the #Bricks4Codebreakers effort, a little of what it was like to work at Bletchley Park during World War II, and how the women and men who staffed the facility blazed a trail not only for digital forensics as a profession, but also for the industry's current-day diversity, inclusion and equity efforts.

Coauthors of a new paper discuss:

• "Expertise" as a function of trial strategy
• The necessity for practitioners to determine -- and communicate -- their own knowledge and limitations thereof
• Where "expertise" actually comes from: the work that makes it evidenceable in terms of quality more than quantity

This week we explore research showing how bias can affect decision making in digital forensics. PhD fellow Nina Sunde joins us from Norway to discuss how practitioners think about interpretation of data, mental blind spots, and error. We talk about practical implementation measures for error mitigation, including peer review. And we discuss the need for additional practice-oriented research to determine the most effective bias mitigation measures for digital forensics, how to help non-practitioners -- especially legal experts and jurors -- to understand digital forensics processes, and how viewing error as a friend could help mitigate both technical and human error.

In this episode, we answer the question: “Does every phone need to come to the digital forensics lab?” and discuss the ongoing challenges associated with frontline forensics. Simon tells us how he consults with clients to work through their needs and offer custom network and design workflows according to multiple parameters, including regulatory ones. Finally, we discuss the balance between national security and human rights, and how frontline mobile forensics supports that balance.

In this episode, we highlight some of the hidden barriers to digital forensics professionals' ability to use their skills to help victims of stalking and domestic violence: how abuse dynamics keep victims from reporting to police, how police and courts can actually fuel the problem, and how emotionally difficult offering assistance can be. At the same time, though, the work can be deeply rewarding, and Eva offers a few resources for educating yourself on how these dynamics work.

The Forensic Focus podcast sits down with Ali Hadi, founder of Cyber5W, and Jessica Hyde, founder of Hexordia, to talk about the need for well prepared, professional digital forensics and incident response practitioners, and how the partnership between their two companies aims to bring digital forensics training to everyone who wants it at an affordable price.

Mason Toups, a DFIR analyst with Sola Security, and Emre Tinaztepe, founder and CEO of Binalyze, join host Christa Miller to talk about the essential elements of incident response, the human factors that are often at the root of a cyber incident, threat actors' own psychology, and how easier communication between responders can facilitate security operations for all.

Trufflepig Forensics Co-founders Aaron Hartel and Christian Müller join us to talk about how they got started, the challenges encountered by law enforcement and other incident responders dealing with memory forensics, and how their team's Nexus software aims to solve those challenges.

University lecturer Jade James talks about her career path from digital forensics lab work into academia, including why pursuing a Master's degree has been crucial to her professional growth, some of the personal obstacles she overcame to earn it, and her current role as a lecturer teaching university students.

Dr. Steven Boyce, Director of the Magnet Forensics Digital Investigation Suite (MDIS), describes collaborative evidence review for non-technical investigators, automation, and centralized case data management -- along with the new skills needed to support them.

Covered in this episode are:

• Generalist vs. specialist DFIR pros
• The need for training and awareness across a wider pool of people -- as well as openness to a variety of backgrounds and redefining what a "good candidate" looks like
• Ways for job-hunters to optimize their LinkedIn profile and networking efforts

Solution consulting for a digital forensics vendor demands a deep knowledge, not just of digital forensics practice, but also of the people who are doing the practice. This month’s special vendor edition of the Forensic Focus podcast brings Nuix’s Aidan Jewell, head of solution consulting in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Aidan started working in digital forensics in January 2005 with a law enforcement agency in England, coming to specialize in Apple Macintosh forensics.

In an era of profound social change, few industries find themselves at the intersection between law, technology, and social justice the way digital forensics does. This month on the Forensic Focus podcast, our vendor edition welcomes Henrik Tjernberg chairman of the board of our longtime sponsor MSAB. Having served in that role since 2002, Mr. Tjernberg has been in the unique position of seeing from a business perspective, how digital forensics has shaped and been shaped by these forces and what it all means for the industry as we enter a new decade.

The digital forensics community thrives when practitioners take the time to share their expertise. Today on the Forensic Focus podcast, we're welcoming one of our co-contributors of original content. I'm your host, Christa Miller, and with us today is Patrick Siewert, principal  consultant of Pro Digital Forensic Consulting, which is based in Richmond, Virginia.

Patrick started his digital forensics career in law enforcement, where over 15 years, he investigated hundreds of high tech crimes -- including some of the highest jury and plea bargain child exploitation investigations in Virginia court history. He continues to hone his digital forensic expertise in the private sector while growing his digital forensic consulting and investigation business marketed towards litigators, professional investigators and corporations -- all while keeping in touch with the public safety community as a law enforcement instructor.

This month on the Forensic Focus podcast, we have a special vendor edition featuring one of our long-time sponsors, MSAB. Mike Dickinson, the company’s chief business development officer, is a senior business professional specializing in technology for law enforcement, military and government agencies. He’s held numerous roles within MSAB, directing communications, training and marketing. As such, he’s built up an extensive knowledge of digital forensic solutions for public sector policing. 

To paraphrase a popular career title: What color is your digital forensics parachute? What path are you on currently? Is it the one you want to be on? And how do you know, when the field might look very different in five years? 

Welcome to the Forensic Focus podcast, where monthly we interview experts from the digital forensics and incident response community on topics ranging from technical aspects to career soft skills. I'm your host, Christa Miller. 

Careers in digital forensics and information security is a hot topic right now. Gaps in skills, gender, and representation from underprivileged communities are all being discussed and to some extent, even debated. With us today to talk more about that is Douglas Brush, an information security executive with over 26 years of entrepreneurship and professional technology experience. 

When we talk about diversity in DFIR, are we referring to hiring people who look different from us, or do we also mean people who think differently? Welcome to the Forensic Focus podcast, where monthly we interview experts from the digital forensics and incident response community on a host of topics ranging from technical aspects to career soft skills. I'm your host, Christa Miller. 

Today we're talking about diversity, though not just in terms of demographic diversity. We also want to talk about the diverse set of experiences that each practitioner brings to digital forensics, their personal and work experiences, the places they've lived, the people they've encountered, and the cultures they were born into, or maybe adopted. Our guest this month is Lodrina Cherne, Principal Security Advocate at CyberReason, and a SANS-certified instructor of Windows forensic analysis.

Christa: Hello, and welcome to the Forensic Focus podcast. Monthly, we interview experts from the digital forensics and incident response community on a host of topics ranging from technical aspects to career soft skills. I'm your host, Christa Miller. 

Today, we're talking with Josh Brunty, an associate professor at Marshall University, where he teaches both foundational and specialized laboratory courses within the digital forensics, information assuranc,e and forensic science graduate degree programs. A former digital forensics laboratory manager and examiner, Josh has over a decade of experience in the field of digital forensics and high tech crime investigation. He has served on several federal and state level cyber crime task forces and panels, and has participated in both national and international committees and panels focusing on the advancement of digital forensic science and digital evidence in the United States. He has authored books, book chapters, and journal publications in the field of digital forensics, mobile device forensics, and social media investigation. Josh, welcome to the show.

Today we're talking with Ryan Duquette, a partner at RSM Canada. Ryan focuses on litigation support, cyber incident response, privacy and technology risks, digital forensics and cyber fraud matters. An investigator for over 20 years, Ryan was previously a police officer focusing on cyber crime and fraud cases. He works closely with clients involved in workplace investigations and civil litigation matters including intellectual property theft, HR investigation, and data breaches.

Christa: Hello and welcome to the Forensic Focus podcast. Monthly we interview experts from the digital forensics and incident response community on a host of topics ranging from technical aspects to career soft skills. I'm your host, Christa Miller. 

Today we're talking with Sarah Edwards, senior digital forensics researcher at BlackBag Technologies. Sarah works in the DC Metro area and specializes in Mac and mobile forensics. She has worked with various federal law enforcement agencies and has performed a variety of investigations including computer intrusions, criminal intelligence, and terrorism products.

Forensic Focus talks to Graeme about working in digital forensics and the new Master's programme at Teesside University.

Christa: Hello and welcome to the Forensic Focus podcast. Monthly we interview experts from the digital forensics and incident response community on a host of topics ranging from technical aspects to career soft skills. I'm your host, Christa Miller.

Today we're welcoming Joseph Walsh, the director of the Master's of Criminal Justice program and an Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Criminal Justice at DeSales University.

Prior to joining the department of Computer Science and Mathematics at DeSales, Joe earned a Master of Science in Information Systems with a concentration in Cybersecurity; a Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Digital Forensics; and a Bachelor of Science degree where he majored in Information Systems with a concentration in Security Administration.