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

Forensic Video Enhancement Techniques

The objective of Forensic Video Enhancement is to clarify or enhance the events as they occurred. This is done using non destructive techniques to preserve the video evidence integrity, and pixel quality.

As DLA, the digital forensics experts are often asked to enhance CCTV Surveillance video recordings for court. Often times they are asked to provide video image enhancement as well for identification purposes.

A variety of video enhancement techniques can be applied in different arrangements on CCTV Surveillance video evidence. The most important ingredient to this forensic process is maintaining the highest quality of the video evidence. This yields the highest success possible throughout the investigation.

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, but full enhancement of your videos and images will always be possible!

Scaling/Pixel Interpolation: Re-size, or scale an image or video to a larger resolution to further identify suspects.

Sharpening: Enhances the edge contrast of an image or video.

Stabilization: This is most common today with smart phone video evidence. It reduces the amount of movement from the user that created the video evidence.

Frame Averaging: Increase the quality of the image by combining data from surrounding frames as well as a better signal to noise ratio in your images or videos.

Speed Reduction: Decrease the original playback of video evidence to view the events as they occurred in more detail. 

If you have a video that you question or need help understanding, please give DLA a call!

Take a look at the Ikena software at work:

http://cellularforensics.co.za/component/allvideoshare/video/01-enhancing-security-camera-video-evidence-of-a-license-plate

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!