What to do when your Hard Drive eventually gives in

Has your hard drive been giving you trouble recently? Has it been acting strange – making noises, moving extra slow and making it almost impossible to find your files? Don’t worry you’re not alone, every hard drive eventually gives in, so it might be time to say goodbye!

When your hard drive is close to giving in, always look out for these signs…

- Strange noises
- Files becoming corrupted
- Crashing
- Slow speeds

These are the most common signs you’ll see, especially if your hard drive is a few years old. If you have an old spinning hard drive, the moving parts can deteriorate over the years causing it to break.

New hard drives, such as solid state drives (SSD) do not have any moving parts, however they too will eventually break when the storage cells have degraded. Although, keep in mind that solid state hard drives are much more reliable and last a lot longer.

Over the years your hard drive may fail gradually, unless it is exposed to excessive heat or physical trauma. So, it is best to always keep a watchful eye on your hard drive’s health, this way you can make sure you are prepared and avoid losing all your precious data. However sometimes the inevitable happens and your hard drive does fail, this is when it is time to call in the professionals.

We offer detailed drive analysis and recovery of artefacts and data all in one. Using a physical image of the hard disk drive, we are able to provide a deep scan of deleted items and trace elements from a hard disk drive.

We use world leader Magnet Axiom for hard disk drive analysis along with a handful of proprietary tools and industry accepted technologies. While we are able to offer on-site triage and acquisition, data analysis is best done within our lab as it is a time consuming and resource intensive operation. We run the latest i7 processing units to minimise analysis time and deliver fast results in the form of a portable case file that you may interrogate at your convenience.

We follow a full secure chain of custody from device acquisition through to analysis and return of exhibits. Our digital forensics lab facility is based in Cape Town – please feel free to contact us on 087 001 0523 or email contact@tcgforensics.co.za

Cellular Best Practices for At-Risk Individuals

Email

· Register a unique email address to use when setting up your phone. Do not use your usual email address. You can add that later as a functional email account.

· Use a totally unique password for the email account with which you setup your phone.

· NEVER give anyone the above email address or password and do not use that email address for anything else.

· iPhone is safer than Android – provided that you follow these guidelines – specifically around using an anonymous email address.

· Always use solid, complex passcodes.

Data

· Enable encryption to secure your data if your phone ever gets lost.

· NEVER migrate data between phones. Rather back the data up and transfer it separately.

· NEVER hand your phone to anyone. Keep it in your hands if you need to show them something.

· Avoid linking your phone to any computer you do not have control of.

· KNOW what data you are backing up to Google, WhatsApp etc. be sure it is the minimum required information and no more.

General

· Keep apps to a bare minimum – if you don’t use it or need it, take it off!

· Never jailbreak an iPhone or root an Android device – only load apps from the relevant app store.

· Avoid using Wi-Fi. Only use Wi-Fi that is manually configured with a hidden SSID and Mac Addressing linking your phone to it. Outside of this, leave Wi-Fi OFF completely.

· Unless you absolutely must use Bluetooth – disable it

· Ensure that Kaspersky or Bitdefender are loaded on your device.

· Make sure that your handset is configured to automatically update your operating system – security vulnerabilities are exposed regularly and fixed. You need them!

For a wide range of digital forensics services including fraud investigations, CFE in South Africa, cellular forensics, service of summons, penetration testing, data recovery and so much more - give us a call now on 087 001 0523 / 021 110 0422 or email contact@tcgforensics.co.za. For more information visit our website here... www.tcgforensics.co.za

11 Common Types of Fraud

When you become the victim of fraud, not only do you have to deal with the aftermath of someone scamming you, such as financial loss, but you also have to deal with the emotional side of it.

There are a range of different types of fraud, either way all of them can cause feelings of anger, devastation, fear and frustration. 

Do you think you have been the victim of fraud? At the TCG Forensic Division, we offer a range of digital forensic services, including fraud investigations. Please feel free to contact us on 087 001 0523 or email contact@tcgforensics.co.za to have a confidential discussion around your particular requirements.

Here are the 11 most common types of fraud to look out for…

1. Insurance Claim Fraud. People who make false claims, such as stage accidents, to receive insurance money from their insurance company. This can be a difficult type of fraud to investigate because some injuries can be difficult to medically identify and debate.  

2. Corporate Fraud. This includes fraud issues such as theft of information, such as private client information. This kind of fraud can lead to a damaged business reputation.

3. Financial Fraud. Evading tax, public corruption, healthcare fraud issues, telemarketing fraud and terrorist financing are all part of financial fraud.

4. Identity Theft. Those who are the victim of identity theft will have to look out for suspicious loan or credit card applications, strange withdrawals from bank accounts as well as using a different name to receive benefits.

5. Internet Fraud. Of course, this type of fraud always occurs online where a cybercriminal will try and take advantage with ransomware or phishing scams. Usually this includes stealing private information such as banking and login details.

6. Corporate Slip & Fall. Fraud like this is planned out by individuals in order to file a claim. People will go as far as to pretend to fall or throwing liquid on the floor in order to ensure a slip.

7. Transit Fraud. Companies who offer transportation, whether it is a bus, train or taxi, will often see fraud such as this where passengers will not seat or secure themselves properly, leading to them falling and injuring themselves on purpose.

8. Ticket Fraud. In some countries, the level of ticket fraud is significant. People will buy tickets online from a fake website; these tickets are not legitimate and have often already been used or do not exist.

9. Mechanical Fraud. This type of fraud is not common, however there are many people who fall victim to mechanics who scam their customers. Often they will be overpriced or they will request things to be fixed that are not broken.

10. Expense Claim Fraud. This often happens in large companies where employees will pocket run over business expenses for themselves. An example could be asking for money to stay in an expensive hotel when in fact they are staying in a cheap accommodation and pocketing the remainder.

11. Inventory Theft. Large companies face the issue of inventory theft when unsupervised employees steal products or order more than the store needs and take the rest for themselves. This may include “expired” food products when they are in fact not expired at all.

What is a Due Diligence Investigation & why should one be conducted?

A due diligence investigation needs to be conducted to assess the qualifications and track records of the people involved in a certain business transaction. This type of investigation needs to identify or reveal if there are any potential inconsistencies, misrepresentations, omissions or controversies.

So – why should a due diligence investigation be conducted?

Any business that is involved with IPO’s, mergers, acquisitions, joint venture, partnership deals and other business situations, should always contact an expert to discuss certain needs and assist in a professional due diligence investigation. At the TCG Digital Forensic Division in Cape Town, we offer all forms of digital forensic services, including due diligence investigations – do not hesitate to give us a call on 087 001 0523 or email contact@tcgforensics.co.za if you wish to have a confidential discussion around your particular requirements.

Our digital forensic services can bring to your attention any past dealings and behaviour which can give you an inside look into what you can expect from your business dealings in the future.

Here are some of the most important benefits of due diligence investigations….

> Reduced risk
> Minimised possible embarrassing situations
> Complete peace of mind
> Ensured reliability
> No hidden surprises
> It is a vital part of your business practice

If you fail to do a due diligence investigation, you may be inviting certain issues and even business disasters – get your due diligence investigation done and you will be able to spot and eliminate the problems.

Why you should use professional forensic image enhancement services

Imagine a crime happens and your CCTV cameras catch the entire scenario, the only problem is that the video or images are not of high enough quality to show the criminals face or the vehicle registration number.

If there are no good frames available that means that case will go unsolved.

However, digital forensic experts often have the means and the correct specialized software to digitally enhance an image and aid in solving the case.

Our TCG digital forensics team are able to provide static image enhancement as well as digital video enhancements. Please bear in mind that results are most often dependant on the quality of the original image and we will require the highest resolution output that you are able to deliver before we can assess what the enhancement potential will be.

While we would dearly love to provide a “CSI” type service where the smallest reflection in someone’s sunglasses reveals a crystal clear image of a suspect – this is limited to what we term “the elusive Hollywood” computer system.

We will gladly review your image(s) at our Cape Town or Pretoria offices and offer you a no-charge assessment of how much adaptive work can be done with the images you have available. From that point we will be able to offer an estimate of costs. Contact TCG Forensics on 087 001 0523 or email contact@tcgforensics.co.za

4 Important Steps to take if you’ve been Hacked!

Have you ever been hacked? Whether you are an individual or a business owner, getting hacked is a terrible experience that can cost you time, money and possibly destroy your business.

Hackers can get away with a lot of things, including stealing your sensitive data and your money. This data, whether it is your personal information and passwords or your customer’s private records can be used to target you in future attacks.

Here’s what you can do to recover from a hack…

Contact Customer Services. If the hack is on your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. profile be sure to contact their customer services as soon as you possibly can. Social networking companies are getting more efficient at cracking down on stolen accounts, so they should be able to help you fairly quickly.

Scan your System. If you manage to get your account under control, always check your entire system as well for suspicious files or strange behaviour. Simply fixing your Facebook profile page doesn’t mean all your other data hasn’t been affected. Always go through your entire system, this includes your emails, online banking, apps, etc.

Do the Basics right. If you’ve been the victim of an attack, you need to make sure you do through all the basics and get them right.

-- Change your passwords on a regular basis and always use a different passwords
-- Use two-factor authentication
-- Install a trusted anti-virus software
-- Patch and update your software on a regular basis
-- Back up your data
-- Be wary of putting too much personal information on your social media accounts

Contact the Professionals. If all else fails and the hack is too much for you to recover from on your own – always contact the professionals before you do anything else that may damage your system even more. While most companies have in-house and contracted skills to manage and administer their network, it’s not uncommon that outside specialist skills are needed to recover from a serious breach. Contact the TCG Digital Forensics team for quick, reliable and affordable hacking recovery.

When you have been hacked you may feel that you have lost a lot more than just your data, you’ll feel embarrassed and the business you’ve put so much time and money into may be compromised. Get your dignity back by using these 4 important steps!

Do you know the History of Digital Forensics?

Before the 1980s, crimes involving computers and digital devices were dealt with using existing laws. So, the field of digital forensics is relatively new. While its history may be short, it is quite complex.

As the years went by, the range of digital crimes being committed increased, but it was not until the 1980s that federal laws began to include computer offences. Canada was actually the first country to pass legislation in 1983, followed by the US Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act in 1986.

The fact that computer and digital crimes grew so much during the 1980s and the 1990s caused law enforcement agencies to start making specilised groups to deal with the technical aspects of the investigation. For example, the Computer Analysis and Response Team that the FBI formed in 1984.

Throughout the 1990s there was a high demand for these new investigative resources, this lead to the creation of regional and even local level groups to help handle the load. But, it was not until 1992 that the term “computer forensics” was actually used in academic literature.

Since the year 2000, a lot of people and agencies have written and published guidelines for digital forensics. A European lead international treaty, the Convention on Cyber crime, came into force in 2004 with the aim of reconciling national computer crime laws, investigative techniques and international co-operation.

The issue of training also received some attention. Companies, such as forensic software developers, began to offer certification programs, and digital forensic analysis was included as a topic at the UK specialist investigator training facility.

Since the late 1990s digital devices have become available everywhere, basically everyone has a phone or some kind of digital device. Devices have advanced way beyond simply communicating, they are great forms of information, even for crime not usually associated with digital forensics. However, digital analysis of phones has lagged behind traditional computer media, mostly because of problems over the ownership of the devices.

The complex field of digital forensics will always have unresolved issues. Many issues will include; increasing size of digital media, the wide availability of encryption to basically everyone, the variety of operating systems, increasing number of people owning multiple devices and lets not forget the legal limitations on investigators.

The TCG Digital Forensics Division is based in Cape Town and combines the experience digital forensic seasoned investigators with the latest technologies to achieve the results that you require! We do all forms of Digital Forensics such as Cyber Forensics (Penetration Testing / Hacking Recovery / Cyber Investigations), Cellular Phone Analysis, Hard Drive Analysis, Device Acquisitions and Due Diligence Investigations.