RE: Computer forensics to uncover illegal internet use

[Eduardo Suzuki <eduardo.ac.suzuki () gmail com>]

        Edmond,

        On the desktop side there are several tools you can use to recover
the deleted files. One of them is OnTrack EasyRecovery. It's a commercial
software, but is very good on its job. Depending on the situation it can
recover most of the files and, if they are damaged in some way, it can fix
them.
        On the following site you'll find some other tools to accomplish
this:

        http://www.data-recovery-software.net/

        If you want to find freeware, try to google for "undelete software".
        Just an advice... Before doing that, it's important to plug the HD
as slave and back it up completely using Symantec Ghost or some other
imaging software.
        On the network side it really depends on your network topology. If
it employs some kind of proxy firewall (even transparent proxies) you may
find useful information in the proxy logs. It's not 100% guaranteed since it
depends on the log configuration (retention, rotation and so on).
        Just my $0.02.
        Best regards,

        Eduardo Suzuki
        esuzuki_br () pop com br
        Eduardo.AC.Suzuki () gmail com
 
"The essential is invisible to the eyes."


-----Original Message-----
From: Edmond Chow [mailto:echow () gettechnologies com] 
Sent: Friday, August 26, 2005 8:23 PM
To: security-basics () securityfocus com
Cc: Edmond Chow
Subject: RE: Computer forensics to uncover illegal internet use


Dear List,

I'm working on the following project and would appreciate your views:

I have been tasked with finding out if a certain desktop computer was used
to view pornographic sites on the internet.  This user has gone to great
lengths to try to mask his illegal activities by erasing cookies, temp.
files and by installing anti-spyware software on his computer.  Are there
any tools that would allow me to still uncover proof that he had accessed
these sites?  So far, the tech department is telling me that he did access
illegal sites on only two dates but I suspect that this illegal activity
started many months or years ago and it will be up to me to find more proof.

Also, at a network level, we know his IP address but yet my technical
support department is telling me that they cannot (either because they don't
want to or because they are not technically capable of) tell me what
internet sites this IP address has accessed in the past.  Logically, there
must be a point in the network (on some piece of hardware) where I can
consult log files to track his activities?  Or, is there a log file that I
can consult that will tell me what sites all my users have accessed and from
what IP address?

In terms of access to the desktop in question, I will have full access as
the computer will be in my possession in the coming days.

Thank-you and any help that you can provide would be most appreciated.

Regards,


Edmond