Comments on: Alternative browsers pose challenge for cybersleuths

The advent of Firefox and Opera means cybercops have to learn new tricks to conduct successful investigations.

[mnmus]

That's not the half of it

Not know where Opera/Firefox stores browser cache, etc.? Poor pseudo-professional "cybersleuths"--wah.

*sheesh* Probably have a hard time with my machines, anyway, since

1.) Opera's set on them to empty all cache.history info every time it's exited and I'm paranoid*, so
2.) Security software's set to wipe free space daily.
3.) Files created personally by me: multi-backups, encrypted and under lock and key. If some snoop wants that info, they're gonna have to work for it.

You mean most people don't clean up after themselves as a matter of course? :-)

*not really paranoid, just a wee tad curmudgeonly and KNOW the government has a habit of sticking its nose in where it doesn't belong. My computers (and my data) are mine, dammit.

[Had_to_be_said]

What this REALLY shows is that...

We must all be willing to run nothing but Microsoft-approved applications, the way Microsoft designed them. And also that, everything we do on our computer should be LOGGED and fully ACCESSIBLE to any, so-called, "law-Enforcement" yo-yo. Otherwise, the "bad guys" will simply walk away scot-free, ...because "Cyber-investigators" ("MCFEs" - Microsoft Certified Forensics Engineers ???) can only run pre-canned "MS Computer-Forensics for XP (version 1.8 SP2)".

Or, maybe we should just OUTLAW non-Microsoft products, right now..? What is that plan called again..? Oh yeah, "...Trusted Computing".

[Had_to_be_said]

What this REALLY shows is that...

We must all be willing to run nothing but Microsoft-approved applications, the way Microsoft designed them. And also that, everything we do on our computer should be LOGGED and fully ACCESSIBLE to any, so-called, "law-Enforcement" yo-yo. Otherwise, the "bad guys" will simply walk away scot-free, ...because "Cyber-investigators" ("MCFEs" - Microsoft Certified Forensics Engineers ???) can only run pre-canned "MS Computer-Forensics for XP (version 1.8 SP2)".

Or, maybe we should just OUTLAW non-Microsoft products, right now..? What is that plan called again..? Oh yeah, "...Trusted Computing".

[teknight]

Not a bad story.

After reading some of the prior comments posted, I'm disappointed in how much previous readers lack in understanding of computer forensics. Please learn about something before you post foolish comments about it.

My background is in Computer Engineering and Computer Science, as well as Industrial Systems. I'm currently working a on Cyber Security Cert and a SAP Enterprise Cert. I've worked extensively with Encase 5 and Linux Autopsy in investigations.

The information in this article is actually very much on the front of computer forensics issues today. And if more criminals switch to using alternative programs like Firefox or Opera, investigative protocols will have to be rewritten and programs, like Encase, changed to meet the new criteria. Not to mention, it could vastly lengthen the time frame required by investigations to thoroughly search through both IE and Firefox/Opera's file structures and slack spaces.

[teknight]

Not a bad story.

After reading some of the prior comments posted, I'm disappointed in how much previous readers lack in understanding of computer forensics. Please learn about something before you post foolish comments about it.

My background is in Computer Engineering and Computer Science, as well as Industrial Systems. I'm currently working a on Cyber Security Cert and a SAP Enterprise Cert. I've worked extensively with Encase 5 and Linux Autopsy in investigations.

The information in this article is actually very much on the front of computer forensics issues today. And if more criminals switch to using alternative programs like Firefox or Opera, investigative protocols will have to be rewritten and programs, like Encase, changed to meet the new criteria. Not to mention, it could vastly lengthen the time frame required by investigations to thoroughly search through both IE and Firefox/Opera's file structures and slack spaces.

[aabcdefghij987654321]

Cybercops are monkeys ?

Because it's not like they are supposed to be skilled IT professionals...

And when they have to dissect a computer with linux on it, they peel a banana to the ancient gods of knowledge to help them understand ***
'Welcome to gentoo. EvilD00d login:' means ?

[teknight]

'Cybercops'

In fact, most whom you refer to as 'Cybercops' are skilled IT professionals with formal backgrounds in Computer Science and Cyber Security. Is that surprising?