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