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!

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.

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.

Your video may prove guilt to you, but not in court

Because of the constant flood of easily accessible technology, security cameras seem to be more plentiful than ever before…

- Many private residences now install security cameras around the exterior of their property.

- Business owners install cameras in work areas and entrances.

- Parents with children often install surveillance equipment to keep tabs on the safety of their children with caregivers.

Those constantly rolling cameras can often hold people accountable for bad behaviour. In the event of videotaping a suspected criminal, people have a false security about their video skills. You might assume that you don’t need the services of professionals like DLA digital and cellular forensic investigators, after all, you can do it yourself, right? You will change your mind after you read what goes into providing video evidence for court…

- When you review a video to make sure you have clearly caught a crime on tape, don’t just immediately decide that dark footage is useless. Actually, dark footage is easier to enhance than overexposed footage.

- Immediately confiscate the equipment used for the video. If the event was recorded through the use of a camera phone, home camcorder or a security camera, immediately turn this equipment and video over to the proper authorities.

- Quickly make a decision about how you wish to allow the footage to be rewound and repeated. In a court trial, jurors may not be as shocked by a crime caught on video if they repeatedly view it.

- If at all possible, involve a video expert experience in evidence handling to be involved with the set-up and operation of the equipment. This person is not only easily accessible for computer glitches. But also, the presence of a legal video expert gives you credibility.

In order for video evidence to be admissible in court, it must comply with the proper recording and preservation guidelines. You might know you have evidence, but you might not be able to use it like you think.

If these important tips have made you question whether you are capable of producing the required evidence of wrongdoing or to prove innocence, it’s time to call the professionals at DLA!