RE: Initial Machine login - Computer Forensics 101

["Steven Bonici" <sbonici () ilaonline org>]

 --PI Licensing required for computer forensics in court Groklaw blog:
the ante is increasing on the credentials required for digital evidence
submitted in courts.
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=2008013014235863
Possibly related case: Another odd example... Last week, an expert
witness was excluded due to a challenge saying an individual who
graduated college with a biochemistry major does not have enough
expertise to be a computer forensic expert despite having experience and
certifications.
http://ridethelightning.senseient.com/2008/01/when-logic-and.html
[Guest Editor (Robert Lee - SANS Forensics instructor and track lead):
Many forensic analysts/experts who testify or examine evidence may not
be licensed PIs, and, as a result motions to dismiss the testimony or
the analysis will be filed in the court.  It will be up to counsel to
have a persuasive argument to counter the motion and up to the judge to
make fair decisions based on the arguments presented. Even in Texas and
South Carolina where state opinions are surfacing on the PI question, it
is still ultimately up to the judge in each case to allow the evidence
or the analysis to be included in the proceedings.  I think logic will
eventually win here, but I'm glad to see it brought up in court so more
people can discuss it.  Buckle your seatbelts; expect many more such
cases to keep popping up.  

-----Original Message-----
From: listbounce () securityfocus com [mailto:listbounce () securityfocus com]
On Behalf Of Murda Mcloud
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 11:10 PM
To: 'Michael Condon'; security-basics () securityfocus com
Subject: RE: Initial Machine login - Computer Forensics 101

Hi Michael,
Sorry, I forgot to give a link

http://www.e-fense.com/helix/

or F.I.R.E
http://fire.dmzs.com/


You can go for knoppix-std too.
http://www.knoppix-std.org/


The closest thing I've come to from a windows standpoint is (not the
same as the others in functionality) http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

There may be others.

-----Original Message-----
From: listbounce () securityfocus com [mailto:listbounce () securityfocus com]
On Behalf Of Michael Condon
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 2:13 AM
To: Worrell, Brian; security-basics () securityfocus com
Subject: Re: Initial Machine login - Computer Forensics 101

Well understood. That brings up another subject - is there freeware or a
documented procedure for making a bootable CD?
Michael Condon
----- Original Message -----
From: "Worrell, Brian" <BWorrell () isdh IN gov>
To: "Michael Condon" <mjc001 () juno com>;
<security-basics () securityfocus com>
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 10:06 AM
Subject: RE: Initial Machine login - Computer Forensics 101


Michael,

Quick sidebar, I recall reading a post about this before on another
list.  If you are being paid to do this, you need to make sure its all
above board as in some states this can be consider illegal.  Do not
recall the exact issue, but part of the outcome was that you needed to
have very clear, signed, documentation on what you were asked to do.
Think the case the article was referring too was in California.

That said, I would make a copy of the drive, and not alter the original
in any way.  This helps keep the evidence chain.


Brian


-----Original Message-----
From: listbounce () securityfocus com [mailto:listbounce () securityfocus com]
On Behalf Of Michael Condon
Sent: Saturday, February 02, 2008 11:15 PM
To: security-basics () securityfocus com
Subject: Initial Machine login - Computer Forensics 101

Here is a Computer Forensics 101 question.
Suppose a distraught woman comes to me with her husband's laptop and
wants me to search it for information about a suspected marital
indescretion.
1. Assuming it is an XP/Vista machine, how can I log in as
administrator?
2. Is the second approach to make a bistream copy of the hard drive
using an external USB har drive enclosure and proceed that way?