Forensic Society

29/04/2023

Happy to be a panelist

31/08/2022

Ganapati poojai done

17/05/2017

🔍 ...All About Ransomware and it's safety messures... 📝📝

What is ransomware?

Ransomware is a sophisticated piece of malware that blocks the victim’s access to his/her files, and the only way to regain access to the files is to pay a ransom.

There are two types of ransomware in circulation:

Encryptors, which incorporates advanced encryption algorithms. It’s designed to block system files and demand payment to provide the victim with the key that can decrypt the blocked content. Examples include CryptoLocker, Locky, CrytpoWall and more.
Lockers, which locks the victim out of the operating system, making it impossible to access the desktop and any apps or files. The files are not encrypted in this case, but the attackers still ask for a ransom to unlock the infected computer. Examples include the police-themed ransomware or Winlocker.
Some locker versions infect theMaster Boot Record (MBR). The MBR is the section of a PC’s hard drive which enables the operating system to boot up. When MBR ransomware strikes, the boot process can’t complete as usual and prompts a ransom note to be displayed on the screen. Examples include Satana and Petya families.
Crypto-ransomware, as encryptors are usually known, are the most widespread ones, and also the subject of this article. The cyber security community agrees that this is the most prominent and worrisome cyber threat of the moment.

Ransomware has some key characteristics that set it apart from other malware:

It feature sunbreakable encryption, which means that you can’t decrypt the files on your own (there are various decryption tools released by cyber security researchers – more on that later);
It has the ability to encrypt all kinds of files, from documents to pictures, videos, audio files and other things you may have on your PC;
It can scramble your file names, so you can’t know which data was affected. This is one of the social engineering tricks used to confuse and coerce victims into paying the ransom;
It will add a different extension to your files, to sometimes signal a specific type of ransomware strain;
It will display an image or a message that lets you know your data has been encrypted and that you have to pay a specific sum of money to get it back;
It requests payment in Bitcoins because this crypto-currency cannot be tracked by cyber security researchers or law enforcements agencies;
Usually, the ransom payments have a time-limit, to add another level of psychological constraint to this extortion scheme. Going over the deadline typically means that the ransom will increase, but it can also mean that the data will be destroyed and lost forever.
It uses a complex set of evasion techniques to go undetected by traditional antivirus (more on this in the “Why ransomware often goes undetected by antivirus” section);
It often recruits the infected PCs into botnets, so cyber criminals can expand their infrastructure and fuel future attacks;
It can spread to other PCs connected to a local network, creating further damage;
It frequently features data exfiltration capabilities, which means that it can also extract data from the affected computer (usernames, passwords, email addresses, etc.) and send it to a server controlled by cyber criminals; encrypting files isn’t always the endgame.
It sometimes includes geographical targeting, meaning the ransom note is translated into the victim’s language, to increase the chances for the ransom to be paid.

Safety messures

1. Don’t store important data only on my PC.

2. Should have 2 backups of my data: on an external hard drive and in the cloud – Dropbox/Google Drive/etc.
The Dropbox/Google Drive/OneDrive/etc. application on my computer is not turned on by default. I only open them once a day, to sync my data, and close them once this is done.

3. Operating system and the software used should be up to date, including the latest security updates.
For daily use, don’t use an administrator account on my computer. Try to use a guest account with limited privileges.

4. Turn off macros in the Microsoft Office suite – Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.

5. In the browser remove the following plugins from my browsers: Adobe Flash, Adobe Reader, Java and Silverlight. If you absolutely have to use them, set the browser to ask you if you want to activate these plugins when needed.
You have to adjust your browsers’ security and privacy settingsfor increased protection.

6. Remove outdated plugins and add-ons from my browsers. only kept the ones you use on a daily basis and keep them updated to the latest version.

7. Use an ad-blocker to avoid the threat of potentially malicious ads.

8. Never open spam emails or emails from unknown senders.

9. Never download attachments from spam emails or suspicious emails.

10. Never click links in spam emails or suspicious emails.

Ketan Sarawagi

12/05/2017

17/02/2017

https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/forensic-examination-of-cyber-crime-in-special-reference-of-socialnetworking-sites-2157-7145-1000326.php?aid=73586

30/09/2016

Hard-to-read serial numbers

When the serial number or the ID stamp on a firearm is difficult to read, try these simple steps:

Thoroughly clean and dry the area.
Apply powder chalk in a contrasting color. (Powder chalk can be purchased at any hardware store. It is used for chalk lines.
Use an alcohol wipe to remove the excess.
Vary the lighting for photographic documentations.

14/06/2016

Take a swab of saliva from your mouth and within minutes your DNA could be ready for analysis and genome sequencing with the help of a new device.

University of Washington engineers and NanoFacture (http://nano-facture.com/), a Bellevue, Wash., company, have created a device that can extract human DNA from fluid samples in a simpler, more efficient and environmentally friendly way than conventional methods.

The device will give hospitals and research labs a much easier way to separate DNA from human fluid samples, which will help with genome sequencing, disease diagnosis and forensic investigations.

"It's very complex to extract DNA," said Jae-Hyun Chung, a UW associate professor of mechanical engineering who led the research. "When you think of the current procedure, the equivalent is like collecting human hairs using a construction crane."

This technology aims to clear those hurdles. The small, box-shaped kit now is ready for manufacturing, then eventual distribution to hospitals and clinics. NanoFacture, a UW spinout company, signed a contract with Korean manufacturer KNR Systems last month at a ceremony in Olympia, Wash.

The UW, led by Chung, spearheaded the research and invention of the technology, and still manages the intellectual property.

Separating DNA from bodily fluids is a cumbersome process that's become a bottleneck as scientists make advances in genome sequencing, particularly for disease prevention and treatment. The market for DNA preparation alone is about $3 billion each year.

Conventional methods use a centrifuge to spin and separate DNA molecules or strain them from a fluid sample with a micro-filter, but these processes take 20 to 30 minutes to complete and can require excessive toxic chemicals.

UW engineers designed microscopic probes that dip into a fluid sample -- saliva, sputum or blood -- and apply an electric field within the liquid. That draws particles to concentrate around the surface of the tiny probe. Larger particles hit the tip and swerve away, but DNA-sized molecules stick to the probe and are trapped on the surface. It takes two or three minutes to separate and purify DNA using this technology.

"This simple process removes all the steps of conventional methods," Chung said.

The hand-held device can clean four separate human fluid samples at once, but the technology can be scaled up to prepare 96 samples at a time, which is standard for large-scale handling.

The tiny probes, called microtips and nanotips, were designed and built at the UW in a micro-fabrication facility where a technician can make up to 1 million tips in a year, which is key in proving that large-scale production is feasible, Chung said.

Engineers in Chung's lab also have designed a pencil-sized device using the same probe technology that could be sent home with patients or distributed to those serving in the military overseas. Patients could swab their cheeks, collect a saliva sample, then process their DNA on the spot to send back to hospitals and labs for analysis. This could be useful as efforts ramp up toward sequencing each person's genome for disease prevention and treatment, Chung said.

The market for this device isn't developed yet, but Chung's team will be ready when it is. Meanwhile, the larger device is ready for commercialization, and its creators have started working with distributors.

14/06/2016

Personal microbiomes shown to contain unique 'fingerprints'

A new study shows that the microbial communities we carry in and on our bodies -- known as the human microbiome -- have the potential to uniquely identify individuals, much like a fingerprint. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers and colleagues demonstrated that personal microbiomes contain enough distinguishing features to identify an individual over time from among a research study population of hundreds of people. The study, the first to rigorously show that identifying people from microbiome data is feasible, suggests that we have surprisingly unique microbial inhabitants, but could raise potential privacy concerns for subjects enrolled in human microbiome research projects.

The study appears online May 11, 2015 in the journal PNAS.

"Linking a human DNA sample to a database of human DNA 'fingerprints' is the basis for forensic genetics, which is now a decades-old field. We've shown that the same sort of linking is possible using DNA sequences from microbes inhabiting the human body -- no human DNA required. This opens the door to connecting human microbiome samples between databases, which has the potential to expose sensitive subject information -- for example, a sexually-transmitted infection, detectable from the microbiome sample itself," said lead author Eric Franzosa, research fellow in the Department of Biostatistics at Harvard Chan.

Franzosa and colleagues used publicly available microbiome data produced through the Human Microbiome Project (HMP), which surveyed microbes in the stool, saliva, skin, and other body sites from up to 242 individuals over a months-long period. The authors adapted a classical computer science algorithm to combine stable and distinguishing sequence features from individuals' initial microbiome samples into individual-specific "codes." They then compared the codes to microbiome samples collected from the same individuals' at follow-up visits and to samples from independent groups of individuals.

The results showed that the codes were unique among hundreds of individuals, and that a large fraction of individuals' microbial "fingerprints" remained stable over a one-year sampling period. The codes constructed from gut samples were particularly stable, with more than 80% of individuals identifiable up to a year after the sampling period.

"Although the potential for any data privacy concerns from purely microbial DNA is very low, it's important for researchers to know that such issues are theoretically possible," said senior author Curtis Huttenhower, associate professor of computational biology and bioinformatics at Harvard Chan School. "Perhaps even more exciting are the implications of the study for microbial ecology, since it suggests our unique microbial residents are tuned to the environment of our body -- our genetics, diet, and developmental history -- in such a way that they stick with us and help to fend off less-friendly microbial invaders over time."

22/11/2015

The Kiwis May Have Solved Our Mixed DNA Problem

Prior to this “backyard” invention by a team of New Zealand scientists, when a crime-scene sample contained DNA from more than one individual, it was unusable. According to Stuff.co.NZ writer Ian Steward, investigators were forced to discard such samples, since there was no way to separate the DNA to provide information for police and detectives on the crime. To rectify this situation, New Zealand scientists have created software – known as STRmix – which can currently separate the DNA of up to four individuals. Simple cases take only seconds, while more complex cases may take days to decipher. Still in its infancy, it’s already been used in New Zealand, Australia, and elsewhere in the world to solve tough cases, including sexual assaults, murder investigations, and arson. The U.S. military has acquired STRmix and will likely soon be in use within the FBI, as well.

22/11/2015

What Are the Possibilities for a Promotion as a Forensic Scientist?

Forensic scientists gather and examine evidence for law enforcement agencies and other employers. They typically start out as trainees, working under the supervision of veteran forensic professionals as they hone their skills and gain real-world experience. As forensic scientists move up the career ladder, they might take on advanced roles within the crime lab or move up to managerial positions. Some progress to teaching roles at college and universities, training the next generation of forensic investigators.

Levels of Forensic Scientists
Job titles for forensic scientists vary by organization. Many law enforcement agencies use a tiered system to classify employees and denote their level of expertise and authority. As they gain experience, they move up to the next level. The Illinois State Police Division of Forensic Science, for example, hires new employees as trainees, promoting them to Forensic Scientist I after one year. At many organizations, a new hire is given the title Forensic Scientist I. They can eventually earn a promotion to the Forensic Scientist II tier, where they can perform work independently. The Forensic Scientist III level is reserved for experts and supervisors.

Supervisory Roles
Forensic scientists can gradually work their way up to managerial roles. In Virginia, for example, a Forensic Manager I oversees operations at a regional or state forensics lab and might serve as a deputy director. A Forensic Manager II serves as the director of a statewide forensics lab. At many agencies, managers, directors and other supervisors train employees, oversee quality assurance, consult with other labs, set organizational goals and establish protocols, policies and procedures. They also oversee budgets and other financial matters, in addition to hiring employees.

22/11/2015

Taking a Look at Chemical Signatures on Common Fibers
Many fabrics today go through treatment processes to make them waterproof, stain-resistant, and wrinkle-free. As a result, clothing often carries residual chemicals in its fibers. Soon, a technique to help investigators identify clothing fibers may be on the way. A technique known as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), has now developed to the point where it can identify a chemical signature on a fiber’s surface and, in doing so, may help to solve crimes. Suppose a minuscule fiber from a killer’s clothing is found at the scene. XPS can now work with the smallest of samples and gives results in mere minutes. Detectives could soon have a way to trace leads from clothing that would have been impossible before.