Could my Computer be affected by a DDoS Attack?

Don’t think that you won’t be affected by a DDoS attack, because any computer is vulnerable to attack no matter how hard you try to protect it.

The malware could be installed on your PC without you even knowing, by clicking on an infected link or visiting a malicious website. Once your computer is contaminated your precious data is either lost, stolen or destroyed.

It is so important for you to make sure that your antivirus software is up-to-date, as well as to ensure that your PC has the latest security patches installed and a reliable firewall in pace. If you do not have any kind of protection you will become a target for hackers.

The digital forensic experts at DLA encourage everyone to install an antivirus program that is trustworthy before it is too late, however if your data is lost do not hesitate to contact them!

Connected devices such as smart phones and other smart devices can also become victims of a DDoS attack. To protect these devices you need to always make sure you have downloaded the most recent security updates.

What is SMS / Text Message Harassment?

Harassment via SMS messages can mean a number of things, such as flooding victims with massive amounts of messages, sending abusive messages and even sexually inappropriate messages in the workplace.

There are steps you can take if you are dealing with this harassment; it usually starts with reporting it to the police. Later when evidence needs to be found, you will have to contact digital forensic experts to recover the harasser’s SMS messages for evidence. Consider contacting DLA Digital Forensics – with the latest SMS recovery tools and software, DLA can assist investigators and attorneys acquire evidence.

One way someone can harass a victim with text messages is to send hundreds of messages in one day, or even in a few hours. The messages harassers send can differ though, some are abusive after a dating failure others are violent messages sent from bullies. Some other tactics used include sending SMS messages in the middle of the night, or at times when the victims are busy and cannot be distracted.

If you feel you are a victim of SMS / text message harassment, make sure to block the messages, report it immediately and seek help!

Avoid Cyber-Fraud this Holiday Season

Getting your Christmas shopping done online is becoming the norm these days. Not only is it easy and convenient, but you also won’t have to deal with the horrible crowds, traffic and crazy long lines!

However, it also excites criminals who are lurking online, waiting to scam people.

DLA has put together five tips to keep you safe this holiday season:

>> know the scams

Never open links or emails from strange email addresses. It’s always best to question emails and double check if they are actually legit, such as your bank.

Stay safe online by reading up on the latest scams and avoid becoming a victim of cyber-fraud.

>> install a firewall

A firewall isn’t always 100 percent safe, but it is a much-needed layered security.  The software filters and keeps you safe from malware and downloads.

Windows offers a built-in firewall, but if you are looking for something else there are some great free firewall software suites online.

>> choose a strong password

If you use the most commonly known passwords out there – password, qwerty, 123456789 – then don’t be surprised when hackers take control.

It is best to try add numbers, capital letters, special characters and always use different passwords for different accounts.

>> check the URL

When shopping online, always check the URL of the website you’re on. Safe online sites will have a little green lock in the address bar which shows you that your personal data will be protected.

Always keep an eye out for the green padlock to ensure your safety online.

>> back up your data on a regular basis

Ransomware can be vicious and aggressive, so regular data backups should always be a part of your cyber-security strategy.

It is easier to restore your device to a previous backup, than pay an exorbitant ransom amount to unlock your data, which most of the time doesn’t even work!

Cyber-fraud is a global problem with attacks happening daily and Christmas is no exception. Identity theft, banking fraud and malware are common place in today’s digital society. Criminals seek out opportunities every day of the year to defraud you, so be vigilant this festive season and keep an eye out for any fraudulent behaviour online!

How to Keep your Smartphone Secure

Your smartphone is no different to your property or house when it comes to safety – you have to use common sense!

Here are eight easy tips on how to keep your smartphone safe and secure:

      1.       Use a password

Always set up a password, pin or pattern to be able to access your phone. For Android: go to Location & Security. For iOS: go to Settings -> Touch ID & Passcode.

      2.       Only download from trusted stores

Use places like Google Play and the App Store to download your games and apps. Also make sure to always read the ratings and reviews if they’re available.

      3.       Back up your data

Protect your information in case an attack happens by backing up your data. If your data ever gets lost, we can recover it. Contact the experts at DLA to get your data back!

      4.       Update your OS and apps

Most updates are just for new features, but sometimes they are also to up the security.

      5.       Log out!

If you do your banking or online shopping on your cellular device, always make sure to log out afterwards. Never keep your passwords and usernames on your phone and try to avoid using public Wi-Fi.

      6.       Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

You may think it’s just a way to connect to free Wi-Fi, but hackers can also use it to access your device and data.

      7.       Don’t give out personal info

That email you received that looks like it’s from your bank may be spam. If you get SMS’s or emails asking you to fill in your private info and login, always contact the business and confirm it is actually legit. 

6 Easy Steps to Keep your Data Safe

These simple steps can keep your data safe, whether it is on your work computer, personal laptop or smartphone. Malfunctions, cyber attacks and viruses can happen to anyone – if you’ve lost your precious data, we can recover it! Contact the experts at DLA today!

>> Use the right software to protect your data. Anti-malware is a must if you want to protect your computer!

>> Prevent viruses from attacking your PC and destroying your data by installing virus and spyware protection.

>> Stop viruses and malware from getting into your system by using a firewall to block dangerous programs.

>> Be wary when you receive emails from unknown sources. Never open an email attachment or clink on a link if you don’t know where the email came from.

>> Stay away from dodgy websites that might contain viruses.

>> Always keep your operating system up to date by installing any recent updates or fixes.

How a digital device becomes involved in a crime

Crimes committed using a digital device essentially employ a hi-tech method to carry out what is usually a traditional crime. Thus, crimes such as blackmail which traditionally evoke images of newspaper cuttings collaged together to create the archetypal ransom note nowadays employ computers to produce the ransom note, be it a printed document or an email.

Examples of other traditional crimes where a digital device has been applied include instant messaging, which can used to commit harassment; email, which is applied to commit fraud though 'phishing' scams; mobile phones to record assaults in what has come to be known as 'happy slapping' and then there are the peer to peer file sharing programs which have been used extensively to download and distribute pictures portraying pedophilia.

The list, it seems, is endless and so is the workload on any hi-tech crime unit to deal with such cases.

Not all crimes committed using a digital device use it as a means to an end. Hacking a computer system without authority is a crime targeted at the computer system itself. So to is a denial of service (DOS) attack on a websites or the intentionally distribution of a virus.

At DLA Digital Forensics, we combine the experience of two seasoned investigators with both criminal and civil backgrounds with the latest technologies to achieve the results that you require. From data recovery, recovery of chat history, digital suspect profiling and so much more - contact DLA today!

The Importance of a Strong Password

Too many people come to us in a frenzy complaining that either their data has been lost or stolen OR they simply cannot remember their password. When you don’t have a password you cant access or protect your files, on the other hand even if you do have a password you need to ensure it is 100% foolproof so you don’t end up being the victim!

DLA offers password recovery services for businesses and personal computer users, using only the latest technologies to achieve the password recovery results you need. Our forensic recovery service includes recovering passwords from zipped files, word documents, excel files and of course logon profiles on computers.

We are able to access what cannot be seen using the latest forensic technology. Using state of the art cellular forensics tools we are also able to bypass 98% of device passwords to read the device directly without needing to know the handsets logon or password. 

We can also perform cellular forensics as well as data recovery from laptops, computers, cell phones and media devices such as tablets.

Do not hesitate to contact DLA for professional and affordable services in Cape Town and the surrounding areas!

How Digital Devices are collected on a Crime Scene

As anyone who has dropped a cell phone in a lake or had their computer damaged in a move or a thunderstorm knows, digitally stored information is very sensitive and easily lost. There are general best practices, developed by organizations to properly seize devices and computers. 

Once the scene has been secured and legal authority to seize the evidence has been confirmed, devices can be collected. Any passwords, codes or PINs should be gathered from the individuals involved, if possible, and associated chargers, cables, peripherals, and manuals should be collected. 

Thumb drives, cell phones, hard drives and the like are examined using different tools and techniques, and this is most often done in a specialized laboratory.

First responders need to take special care with digital devices in addition to normal evidence collection procedures to prevent exposure to things like extreme temperatures, static electricity and moisture.

- Devices should be turned off immediately and batteries removed, if possible. Turning off the phone preserves cell tower location information and call logs, and prevents the phone from being used, which could change the data on the phone. In addition, if the device remains on, remote destruction commands could be used without the investigator’s knowledge. Some phones have an automatic timer to turn on the phone for updates, which could compromise data, so battery removal is optimal.

- If the device cannot be turned off, then it must be isolated from its cell tower by placing it in a Faraday bag or other blocking material, set to airplane mode, or the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or other communications system must be disabled. Digital devices should be placed in antistatic packaging such as paper bags or envelopes and cardboard boxes. Plastic should be avoided as it can convey static electricity or allow a build-up of condensation or humidity.

- When sending digital devices to the laboratory, the investigator must indicate the type of information being sought, for instance phone numbers and call histories from a cell phone, emails, documents and messages from a computer, or images on a tablet.

Computers and cellular devices have had an increasing role in modern crime, let the digital forensic experts at DLA follow the electronic trail to find and protect the digital evidence that you need.

What is Ikena Forensic and what can it do for you?

Would you like to see a video more clearly? Perhaps you need to clear up a video to see a criminal’s license plate number, or maybe the face of a thief you captured?

Here at DLA, we are now an Africa Exclusive Agent for Ikena Forensic, meaning that all those valuable details that you’ve been missing will now be revealed!

Unlike all the other video clarification software out there, Ikena Forensic applies multiple advanced algorithms to fix any issues that destroy the quality of the video.

Here are several of the patented algorithms that will help you get the most out of your video...

Super Resolution – Multiple frames of video are combined to recover details and remove noise.

Deinterlacing – 2x resolution is recovered with kernel regression deinterlacing.

Light & Contract – Uncovers details that you may have missed in your video.

Stabilization – Stabilizes shaky video from the most extreme cases with multiple frame stabilization.

The difference when we use the Ikena Forensic is clear – all the critical information that you were missing before is revealed!

Take a look at the videos below...

Contact us here for more information... info@cellularforensics.co.za or 082 886 8327 / 021 551 6222

How to Extract Clear Facts from Bad Video

There are hundreds of programs out there claiming to be able to improve video quality, but most don't have the magic answer to your situation.

Limited time and budgets prevent the application of the best software solution. To address this, DLA Digital Forensics has become an Africa exclusive agent for Ikena Forensic Software.

The Ikena Software gives digital forensic experts the tools to enhance videos from anything, including security cameras, mobile phones and body cams. Your video can be enhanced to allow you to see important details, like the face of a criminal or the license plate of a getaway vehicle.

Do you want to see how the Ikena Forensic Software works? Take a look at the video below...

This powerful forensic tool delivers clear evidence and a greater understanding of how and why each process works.  The digital forensic experts at DLA can optimize and automate nearly every step, thus reducing working time, eliminating judgment-based errors, and ensuring an accurate reproducible set of facts.  That is what the industry is all about!

Video Enhancement: What is and is not possible

Digital forensic and video enhancement specialists are asked on a regular basis to enhance images that have been recorded.

One of the goals of video enhancement, in some cases, is to be able to see persons faces better than they are when viewing the video under normal circumstances. Other times they are asked to enlarge and clarify a video in order to identify, for instance, the license plate on a car that is alleged to be involved in criminal activity.

With video enhancement, forensic experts can only do so much. In a lot of cases, the video that has been exported from the surveillance system is small and when enlarged, or zoomed in on the objects of interest they become very blurry and distorted.

BUT, we are proud to announce that our forensic experts at DLA will now be an Africa exclusive agent for Ikena Forensic Software! Not only does Ikena offer some of the best software programs available today, they also insist that full enhancement of your videos and images will always be possible!

Now you no longer have to stress about not having the highest possible quality surveillance system and video – Take a look below to see Ikena video enhancement in action...

Digital Evidence – How It’s Done

Computer documents, emails, text and instant messages, transactions, images and Internet histories are examples of information that can be gathered from electronic devices and used very effectively as evidence. 

For example, mobile devices use online-based based backup systems, also known as the “cloud”, that provide forensic investigators with access to text / messaging app messages and pictures taken from a particular phone. These systems keep an average of 1,000–1,500 or more of the last text messages sent to and received from that phone.

In addition, many mobile devices store information about the locations where the device travelled and when it was there. To gain this knowledge, investigators can access an average of the last 200 cell locations accessed by a mobile device. Satellite navigation systems and satellite radios in cars can provide similar information. Even photos posted to social media such as Facebook or Instagram may contain location information. 

Photos taken with a Global Positioning System (GPS)-enabled device contain file data that shows when and exactly where a photo was taken. 

Investigators can collect a great deal of history related to a device and the person using it!

DLA is based in Cape Town and combines the experience of two seasoned investigators with both criminal and civil backgrounds with the latest technologies to achieve the results that you require.

Your deleted WhatsApp messages might not be as 'deleted' as you thought

Sometimes, the delete option is your best friend.

WhatsApp brought you the two-tick (so you can’t hide the fact that you’ve received a message) and then the blue ticks (so you can’t hide the fact that you’ve read a message).

In April - despite much controversy following the San Bernadino attack, in which the FBI had paid almost £1 million to unlock the iPhone used by one of the shooters - WhatsApp went ahead with end-to-end encryption.

This means that while you can’t hide your ghosting antics from the person in question, you can hide your messages from third parties.

But according to a new blog post, an iOS device might actually still store your "deleted" messages.

The data works similarly to your laptop’s hard drive: you might be able to delete the WhatsApp messages, but deleting it doesn't overwrite the data, which means it can still be retrieved.

When you backup your iPhone with iCloud the data gets copied to a less secure forum.

While the information can’t necessarily be accessed by a third party, it is still stored locally on your device which means that the only real way to get rid of it is by deleting the app.

Even then, the police can still potentially access it.

Law enforcement can potentially issue a warrant with Apple to obtain your deleted WhatsApp chat logs, which may include deleted messages.

Basically, the delete option may not be that great friend after all.

DLA is based in Cape Town and combines the experience of two seasoned investigators with both criminal and civil backgrounds with the latest technologies to achieve the results that you require.

What Exactly is Computer Forensics?

The field of computer forensics has grown to become a science in itself. Computer forensics is also known as cyber forensics. It involves applying computer investigation and analysis techniques to solve a crime and provide evidence to support a case. Investigators often use proprietary forensic applications and software programs to examine computer hard drives, extract certain types of data from files and folders, and also to recover information from encrypted files. This digital information must be organized and documented into an official report form to be presented in a court of law.

Computer Forensics Defined

The computer forensics definition can be broken down into several technical aspects of the actual science of computer forensics. The general definition of computer forensics is the processes and investigative methods used to find digital evidence and prepare it for legal proceedings. The more in-depth definition includes the preservation of media and data, identification of computer-related evidence, extraction of the data and interpretation. Interpretation is perhaps the most important element of the computer forensics definition because this is where forensics experts must draw conclusions from a formal forensic analysis.

Throughout the process of data gathering and interpretation, the computer forensics specialist must document everything in a structured fashion. They must report exactly what types of investigations were performed and document all of the steps taken to retrieve various files, folders and data. The courts can then apply various types of methodology and testimonies in order to determine whether evidence presented can actually be used in the legal proceedings. This is why computer forensics specialists must learn about the different legal processes involved in an investigation and make sure that there is always a high level of integrity of evidence.

Why the Computer Forensics Definition Can Change

It's important to recognize that there are two main types of computer forensics investigations so the computer forensics definition can change. The first involves investigations where a computer or digital technologies were used to perform the crime (cybercrime). The second is when a computer is used as the target of a crime, such as when a hacker retrieves sensitive information or someone has their identity stolen online. In both of these situations, the computer forensics definition may change slightly because the investigator uses different techniques and methodologies to solve the crime.

The digital forensic experts from DLA use their knowledge of investigation and forensic software to find and reveal the computer or mobile forensic evidence that your require.

Straight Talk About Cyberstalking

Cyberstalking includes (repeatedly) sending threats or false accusations via email or mobile phone, making threatening or false posts on websites, stealing a person’s identity or data or spying and monitoring a person’s computer and internet use. Sometimes the threats can escalate into physical spaces.

There are just as many predators on the internet as there are in real life. Anyone can be stalked online but the majority of victims as in life offline are female. Stalking estimates show that 80% of stalking victims are women.

And the perpetrators are not just strangers. They can also be former, estranged or current partners, boyfriends or husbands. Domestic violence victims are one of the most vulnerable groups to traditional stalking so it’s no surprise they are vulnerable to cyberstalking as well.

As in other types of violence against women, cyberstalking is about power relations, intimidation and establishing control. If you are being stalked, know first and foremost that you did NOT “provoke” this harassment.

How can I prevent someone from stalking me online?

- Be careful what personal information you share online including in email, on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. It is very easy to glean information about where you live, the places you love to go to in your area and the people you care about from posts and pictures.

- Create a different email account for registering in social networking sites and other online spaces. It will help avoid spam and your personal email won´t be revealed if the online service doesn’t have a good privacy practice.

- Do not feel obligated to fill out all fields when registering online or provide identifying information such as birthdates and place in required fields.

- In your online user profile, use a photo that doesn’t identify you or your location, so you can’t be recognised.

- Consider using a name that is not your real name or a nickname as your email name, screen name or user ID. And try not to use common dates such as your birthday as the digits in your email name or password. Instead, pick a name that is gender- and age-neutral. Treat your email and/or internet account like you would your credit card, ID or passport number – very carefully.

- If you are breaking up with an intimate partner – especially if they are abusive, troubled, angry or difficult – reset every single password on all of your accounts, from email and social networking accounts to bank accounts, to something they cannot guess.

- Services such as Facebook change their privacy policy all the time, so it is a good idea to check your privacy settings to make sure you are sharing the information you want to share with people you trust and not the general internet public. Some sites have options for you to test how your profile is being viewed by others – test and make sure you only reveal what is absolutely necessary.

- What information are family and friends posting about you? Let them know your concerns about privacy and help them learn better privacy settings.

- Do an internet search of your name regularly and monitor where you appear online. If you find unauthorised info about yourself online, contact the website moderator to request its removal.

- Make sure that your internet service provider (ISP), cell phone service, instant messenger (called internet relay chat, or IRC in some terms of service) network and other services you use has an acceptable privacy policy that prohibits cyberstalking. If they have none, suggest they create one and/or switch to a provider that is more responsive to user privacy concerns and complaints.

Digital forensics takes much more than an average knowledge of all things digital, it requires a thorough understanding of investigative process, the law of evidence and of naturally the appropriate background to criminal and civil investigations.

Contact DLA today and let us follow the digital trail to find the evidence you need!

When should you consider using computer forensics?

If any form of digital information is even remotely involved in a case or legal situation, a computer forensic examination will be required. Digital information has invaded virtually every aspect of our day-to-day existence, having become a basic component of our lives, from computers, to smartphones, to social networking, digital information plays a crucial role in almost every case.

Computer forensics differs from data recovery, which is, recovery of data after an event affecting the physical data, such as a hard drive crash. Computer forensics goes much further. Computer forensics is a complete computer examination with intricate analysis of digital information being the ultimate goal.

For a successful forensics examination, you must have all the information relevant to a matter, not only to construct effective legal strategies, but also to focus your expectations and efficiently budget your services. There is nothing more difficult to address than a case which has become complicated by new facts, where you once expected the matter to proceed smoothly and without significant cost. Knowing all the facts early in a matter, allows you to better prepare for those cases that will require significant legal expertise to manage.

In response to pending litigation, analysing your relevant ESI is an excellent way to discharge your duties to preserve evidence and avoid spoliation, while also acquiring all relevant information essential to your legal theories and strategies. Similarly, as part of critical business decisions, forensically analysing relevant computers and devices can provide essential information. For example, analysing the computers of corporate officers or employees as part of the termination process can alert you to possible litigation issues such as violation of non-compete agreements, improper copying of intellectual property, etc.

To prepare for litigation, an attorney ought to determine whether a Request for Production of Documents will obtain all relevant evidence. A simple question to ask is whether you want to discover part of the relevant information (i.e. visible by your opponent’s operating system) or all of it (deleted, hidden, orphaned data, etc). It is not unrealistic to anticipate that information contained on a computer system which is helpful to a matter would be saved, while that which is harmful would be deleted, hidden, or rendered invisible. For example, in sexual harassment cases, it is not unusual to discover deleted emails and other data invisible to the operating system that significantly impacts the case. Computer forensic analysis extracts all the emails, memos, and other data that can be viewed with the operating system, as well as all invisible data. In many cases, the invisible data completely changes the nature of a claim or defense, often leading to early settlement and avoiding surprises during litigation.

In any situation in which one or more computers may have been used in an inappropriate manner, it is essential to call a forensic expert. Only a computer forensic analyst will be able to preserve, extract, and analyze the vital data that records the “tracks” left behind by inappropriate use. Taking the wrong steps in these circumstances can irrevocably destroy the vestiges of wrongful use that may result in litigation or criminal prosecution.

Digital, computer and mobile forensics requires much more than what you may think. At DLA, our seasoned investigators use a special set of skills and tools to recover or find the digital data that you need!

How Computer Forensics Works - Standards of Evidence

If the investigators believe the computer system is only acting as a storage device, they usually aren't allowed to seize the hardware itself. This limits any evidence investigation to the field. On the other hand, if the investigators believe the hardware itself is evidence, they can seize the hardware and bring it to another location. For example, if the computer is stolen property, then the investigators could seize the hardware.

In order to use evidence from a computer system in court, the prosecution must authenticate the evidence. That is, the prosecution must be able to prove that the information presented as evidence came from the suspect's computer and that it remains unaltered.

Although it's generally acknowledged that tampering with computer data is both possible and relatively simple to do, the courts so far haven't discounted computer evidence completely. Rather, the courts require proof or evidence of tampering before dismissing computer evidence.

Another consideration the courts take into account with computer evidence is hearsay. Hearsay is a term referring to statements made outside of a court of law. In most cases, courts can't allow hearsay as evidence. The courts have determined that information on a computer does not constitute hearsay in most cases, and is therefore admissible.

If the computer records include human-generated statements like e-mail messages, the court must determine if the statements can be considered trustworthy before allowing them as evidence. Courts determine this on a case-by-case basis.

DLA is based in Cape Town and combines the experience of two seasoned investigators with both criminal and civil backgrounds with the latest technologies to follow the electronic trail and find the digital evidence you need!

How Computer Forensics Works - Phases of a Computer Forensics Investigation

The experts at DLA listed the following steps every digital forensic investigators should follow to retrieve digital evidence:

1. Secure the computer system to ensure that the equipment and data are safe. This means the detectives must make sure that no unauthorized individual can access the computers or storage devices involved in the search. If the computer system connects to the Internet, detectives must sever the connection.

2. Find every file on the computer system, including files that are encrypted, protected by passwords, hidden or deleted, but not yet overwritten. Investigators should make a copy of all the files on the system. This includes files on the computer's hard drive or in other storage devices. Since accessing a file can alter it, it's important that investigators only work from copies of files while searching for evidence. The original system should remain preserved and intact.

3. Recover as much deleted information as possible using applications that can detect and retrieve deleted data.

4. Reveal the contents of all hidden files with programs designed to detect the presence of hidden data.

5. Decrypt and access protected files.

6. Analyse special areas of the computer's disks, including parts that are normally inaccessible. (In computer terms, unused space on a computer's drive is called unallocated space. That space could contain files or parts of files that are relevant to the case.)

7. Document every step of the procedure. It's important for detectives to provide proof that their investigations preserved all the information on the computer system without changing or damaging it. Years can pass between an investigation and a trial, and without proper documentation, evidence may not be admissible.

8. Be prepared to testify in court as an expert witness in computer forensics. Even when an investigation is complete, the detectives' job may not be done.

All of these steps are important, but the first step is critical. If investigators can't prove that they secured the computer system, the evidence they find may not be admissible. It's also a big job. In the early days of computing, the system might have included a PC and a few floppy disks. Today, it could include multiple computers, disks, thumb drives, external drives, peripherals and Web servers.

Computer Forensics Basics – How it works

The purpose of computer forensics techniques is to search, preserve and analyze information on computer systems to find potential evidence. Many of the techniques detectives use in crime scene investigations have digital counterparts, but there are also some unique aspects to computer investigations.

For example, just opening a computer file changes the file -- the computer records the time and date it was accessed on the file itself. If detectives seize a computer and then start opening files, there's no way to tell for sure that they didn't change anything. Lawyers can contest the validity of the evidence when the case goes to court.

Some people say that using digital information as evidence is a bad idea. If it's easy to change computer data, how can it be used as reliable evidence? Many countries allow computer evidence in trials, but that could change if digital evidence proves untrustworthy in future cases.

Computers are getting more powerful, so the field of computer forensics must constantly evolve. In the early days of computers, it was possible for a single detective to sort through files because storage capacity was so low. Today, with hard drives capable of holding gigabytes and even terabytes of data, that's a daunting task. Detectives must discover new ways to search for evidence without dedicating too many resources to the process.

What are the basics of computer forensics? What can investigators look for, and where do they look? Find out when the digital forensic experts from DLA discuss the steps in collecting evidence from a computer?

Four ways to protect your PC data

A modern PC leads a kind of dual life. On the one hand, it serves as an entertainment centre, offering access to games, online videos, and the entire Internet. On the other hand, it acts as a tool for collecting, creating, and storing important information of all kinds.

If your computer is lost, broken, or stolen, switching to a new one has little effect on the entertainment side. But unless you've properly protected the personal data on that system, a theft or loss could become a data disaster.

The digital forensic experts at DLA use state-of-the-art techniques and software to recover your precious data, whether it was accidentally deleted or even stolen.

But, how can you head off such a disaster? Here are some hot ideas:

1. Hide Your Valuables
If a burglar breaks into your house, will she find your valuables lying around in plain sight? Or have you hidden them away safely? By the same token, even though your security suite or antivirus really should fend off data-stealing Trojans, protecting your personal data on the chance one might get through is just common sense. Having your data locked down will also help if that burglar makes off with your laptop.

2. Skip the Recycle Bin
When you need to dispose of papers that contain private information, you don't toss them in the recycling bin with the newspapers. Rather, you put them through the shredder. When deleting sensitive files, you should likewise avoid Windows's Recycle Bin.

3. Encrypt It!
A data-stealing Trojan will grab what it can get easily. Unless you're the target of a personally directed hack attack, you can figure that even simple encryption will defeat the Trojan. Got a sensitive file you need to keep, rather than shred? At the very least, copy it into an encrypted ZIP file and then shred the original.

4. Keep It Offsite
PCs break down, laptops get stolen, files get lost. A backup copy is the ultimate security for your data, but if you keep the backup with the computer a single disaster can take out both at once. A hosted online backup service encrypts your data and keeps it in a safe location far, far away.

Unless your PC functions as nothing but an entertainment centre, its loss or theft will have an impact far beyond the cost of a replacement. By taking steps to protect the important data on the PC you can keep that impact to a minimum.

Hide personal data, securely delete outdated sensitive files, and encrypt sensitive files that you're still using. That will keep a thief from stealing both your PC and your identity. Maintaining an offsite backup copy will ensure you don't lose access to the data files you really need to keep. A little effort now can save a huge headache later.