Enhancing Videos for Forensic Purposes - How do we do it?

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.

At the TCG Forensic Division, 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 provides the highest success possible throughout the investigation.

Did you know that the TCG Forensic Division 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 us a call on 087 001 0512 or email info@cellularforensics.co.za

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

What being a Digital Forensic Expert is all about

As technology advances, those in the criminal justice and criminology fields have to learn to change with it. More people conduct business online, and more occupations require at least some use of a computer or cellular phone.

To fight crimes involving computers and mobile phones, new career opportunities for digital forensic experts have started to become more popular.

What do digital forensic experts do? Well, as the name implies, they reconstruct and analyze digital information to aid in investigations and solve computer-related crimes. They can look into incidents of hacking, recover chat history and even recover lost or stolen data.

Some of the services of a digital forensic expert often include:

- Recovering data from damaged or erased hard drives

- Gathering and maintaining evidence

- Working with cellular devices, computers and other electronic equipment

-  Digital image enhancement

- Recovering SMS or chat history

Private companies and government organisations may employ digital forensic investigators full time, or they may contract for their services. Investigators will likely be involved in looking for violations of company policies regarding computer use as much as they will be involved in crime solving.

In addition to computer skills and related education and certifications, digital forensic investigators and digital forensic experts must also possess strong analytical and investigative skills. They need to be able to read and interpret data and to formulate conclusions, and they must be able to present their findings and conclusions in a format that can be easily understood.

A digital forensic expert’s job is both stimulating and rewarding. It allows you to put your unique skills and knowledge to work in a field that is truly helpful to others.

The Forensic Division

Digital Forensics (cellular & computer based) requires much more than a well-developed software that can be purchased over the internet. It requires a thorough understanding of the investigative process, the law of evidence, excellent problem solving skills, a strong attention to detail as well as an appropriate background to criminal and civil investigations. 

We combine the experience of seasoned investigators with both criminal and civil backgrounds with the latest technologies to achieve the results that you require. 

Cellular phones all carry data on them – often more than we realize. Cellular forensics is the science of retrieving what is seen as well as what has been erased. We are able to achieve full recovery of deleted text messages, WhatsApp conversations and images.

Computers hold a wealth of information unseen. To the untrained eye, data may well be gone, deleted forever. This is however most commonly not the case.

Using state-of-the-art software and hardware processes we are able to recover e-mails, conversation threads, photographs, files and related data to show traces of what has been done when and how on computers, laptops and tablets.

Our forensic services are designed around the needs of attorneys, investigators and forensics audits, but also cover a wider scope. Some of the digital forensic and cellular forensic services we provide, in Cape Town and nationally, are:

      -          Cellular Forensics (Full profile)

      -          Data Recovery

      -          SMS Recovery

      -          Recovery of Chat History

      -          Recovery of WhatsApp History

      -          Digital Suspect Profiling

      -          Digital Image Verification

      -          Image Enhancement

      -          CCTV Footage Enhancement

      -          Password Recovery

      -          Mail Recovery

Should you require our assistance with forensic assessment of a cellular device, tablet, computer, laptop or server, please don’t hesitate to contact us at any time. Our offices are based in Cape Town; however we have reach to the rest of the country as required.

Contact The TCG Forensic Division today to discuss your requirements - call 079 691 0138 or email craig@tcgforensics.co.za

Recovering your Data Quickly and Easily

People use their computers for almost everything; many of these things can be used against you. Hiding money, illegal activities, inappropriate emails and just about anything you can think of.

Often, if you are trying to hide something, you’ll make an effort to completely clean out your computer by deleting “everything” and reformatting. The problem is, when you contact some IT support companies and you are told that all is lost, they probably have no idea what a digital forensic investigator can do!

The harsh truth is that the evidence is still there, waiting to be found, you just can’t see it. The only question is, do you want it recovered or not.

Many businesses that have a disgruntled employee, or feel that an employee is involved in unacceptable activities at work, may want to acquire some digital evidence, they can use a digital forensic investigator to recover all the evidence that they need.

At the TCG Forensic Division we can supply you with cellular, hard disk drive forensics and digital suspect profiling.

Need something recovered? Don’t hesitate to contact us today to discuss your requirements - call 079 691 0138 or email craig@tcgforensics.co.za

Data Loss and Recovery

Losing your data can happen in a number of ways. From accidentally deleting your files and your hard drive failing to hacking or even power failure! All these things can cause your data to be seemingly lost forever…

However, it is possible for some data recovery specialists to retrieve your precious data even if it has almost completely been destroyed. Should there be data on your hard drive, flash drive or other storage device that you would like to salvage – contact the TCG Forensic Division to discuss your requirements.

The bad news is that sometimes it is not possible to recover the data you have lost; sometimes the system is too damaged to get any data back.

There are certain methods that are used to get your lost data back, however the methods used depend on the way your data was lost in the first place. Here are some of the most common forms of data recovery:

~ File deletion recovery

~ File corruption recovery

~ File system format or damage

~ Physical drive damage

~ Solid state drive data recovery

The one best method that should always be used to protect your data – Make lots of backups on a regular basis!

Where should you Install Security Cameras at your Business?

Your business is an important part of your life and in order for it to function properly you need to make sure the correct security measures are in place.

It’s not possible for you to go around monitoring your entire company grounds, but it is possible to use the power of technology to do so.

Many businesses have taken to installing security cameras to keep an eye on what is going on when no one is watching. Here’s why it is vital to install security cameras:

     1.       Safety and security in the office

     2.       Preventing theft, crimes and violence

     3.       Ensuring employees are performing their jobs properly

     4.       Settling disputes

     5.       Keeping an eye on unknown visitors

The most popular reasons why companies turn to using security cameras is crime prevention and investigation. Why? Because cameras record and save everything that goes on, meaning as a business owner you can go back and view an incident and find out what really happened. This footage can be used as evidence to sort out legal issues.

However, to get the maximum results from your camera you need to install them in the appropriate locations…

      -          Entrances / Exits

      -          Reception Area

      -          Office Area

      -          Store Rooms

      -          Customer Interaction Points

      -          Warehouses

      -          Loading Docks

      -          Any Secluded Locations (alleys, parking lots, dumpsters)

To have complete peace of mind you need to know that your business is protected and secure. Don’t be a victim, keep yourself and your business safe by installing security cameras!

The TCG Digital Forensics Division offers a range of services around analysis and the enhancement of CCTV footage, providing you with the footage and evidence that you need.

Our experts use a wide variety of forensic imaging technology to help to improve the quality and clarity of any images, allowing you to pick out certain important things such as vehicle registration numbers and facial features.

Why is Backing up so Important?

Your operating system can be reinstalled and so can all your programs and applications; however it can be almost impossible to recover all your original data if something were to happen.

Because of the new ransomware taking over – WannaCry – it is now clearer than ever that backing up your important data and having a plan in place is an essential step every NEEDS to take.

Many things could lead to your data disappearing, but either way, a backup of your data should be done on a regular basis.

Here’s why…

One day your hard drive WILL crash. It is inevitable one day all your data will be lost and you need to be prepared for that day! It doesn’t have to be a nightmare when it happens. Why? Because you should have a backup on hand that’ll allow you to stay calm and carry on working.

Everyone has something to lose. It could be family photos, work documents or a collection of movies you’ve had for years. Either way, don’t be lazy and tell yourself you’ll back up tomorrow and push it aside or convince yourself you won’t miss the data you lose – every single one of us needs a backup!

Backing up is simple. Now that you have decided that backing up is important, you need to actually do it! Luckily at The Computer Guyz we are here to help. Contact us on 087 001 0511/2 or email sales@tcgcape.co.za. Should you have data that has already been lost and you need it recovered, our TCG Forensic Division is here to assist you! Email info@cellularforensics.co.za!

Stop whatever you are doing right now and put it on your list of things to do! And most importantly tell everyone around you as well as your work colleagues and employees to do a backup too!