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Searching for Resources on Forensic Computing?

Posted by Cliff on from the if-the-weekly-fix-of-CSI-isn't-enough dept.

Computer-quincyME asks: "I am very interested in forensic computing (using computers to help forensics, like in blood spatter analysis, geographic profiling etc.) but despite some extensive Googling, I'm not able to find any decent site that contains information on current forensic problems that don't have yet an acceptable computing implementation (I'd like to try my hand at writing some forensic software in my spare time, and I wouldn't want to reinvent the wheel, but to create something useful). Any forensics experts in the Slashdot crowd that could give me a hand? Do you know of any tasks you have to routinely do these days by hand that you would kill to have more automated? Also, how did you end up in your current job?"

14 comments

  1. www.sans.org by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Check out the reading room at www.sans.org.

  2. Bah! by gnovos · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just admit it, you are a terrorist looking for information on how the "good guys" catch people like you. You couldn't possibly want information like that just out of "curiosity". I say "Bah!" to you, terrorist!

    --
    "Your superior intellect is no match for our puny weapons!"
    1. Re:Bah! by droidmaker · · Score: 1

      Is this what America has come to. I mean, anybody who wants to learn something is autmatically a terrorist. How sad. The touted terrorists involved in the september trajic events had an enormus supply of money and time it seems. My point, If they really wanted to learn this what this guy did they could just enroll in Univ. courses. If this post is totaly humorus, which I suspect (hope) then this message is for thous out there who really do think this way.

    2. Re:Bah! by gnovos · · Score: 2

      Is this what America has come to. I mean, anybody who wants to learn something is autmatically a terrorist. How sad. The touted terrorists involved in the september trajic events had an enormus supply of money and time it seems.

      By questioning the veracity of my previous terrorism claims, I can only conclude that you too are a terrorist...

      --
      "Your superior intellect is no match for our puny weapons!"
  3. How about asking? by Ayende+Rahien · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    I know that it will probably terrify you, but:
    A> Go outside.
    B> Find the local police foresnic department.
    C> Ask.

    --

    --
    Two witches watched two watches.
    Which witch watched which watch?
    1. Re:How about asking? by clark625 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I actually used to volunteer with my county's sheriff's office. It was way out in the sticks, and crime wasn't a huge thing. But still, we had murders and all that evilness. Most of it was domestic violence.

      So one day, I do exactly what you purposed. I had sorta known the detectives, and shoot--it seemed perfectly reasonable to ask about how they go about collecting evidence and coming up with models, etc. That was a mistake. The very first statement out of the guy's mouth was that he wouldn't ever share HIS methods with anyone unless by court order (testifying, etc.). Too much fear that if you knew his personal methods, you could then commit a crime that would never be solved. Plus, he (possibly correctly) assumed that maybe I would use this to my advantage in the future.

      You might be able to find out general information about the practices, though. Heck--watch TLC and Discovery. But if you notice carefully, you'll find that you never do get to see any particular detective's methods. You only get bits and pieces that may or may not be relevant. It's very much a predator-prey lifestyle. You may also be able to ask professors at a college or university that teaches forensic science.

      Just be careful never to ask in such a way that makes you look guilty before you start.

      --
      Long, cute, or funny Sigs are just another form of over compensation, used by geeks, nerdz, etc.
  4. bullet matching software by ubiquitin · · Score: 2, Informative

    Six years ago, when I was an undergrad B.Sc. chemistry major in the Midwest, I took a tour of the area police crime lab. At the time the police had a "cutting edge" SGI system which allowed them to exchange via a network close-up photographs of bullets for comparison in a database. The idea was that the imaging system helped them to match up bullets being fired from the same gun (rifling leaves a signature) in an effort to catch trigger-happy interstate criminals. I have no doubt that this system could use improvements and integration with open source image analysis tools at this point. Good luck with your ambition. Forensics is one of the broadest areas, because it is at the interface between law and medicine/science/technology - anything that can be used in a courtroom, really.

    --
    http://tinyurl.com/4ny52
    1. Re:bullet matching software by ReluctantBadger · · Score: 2


      The system you are referring to is called DRUGFIRE. It's been around for a loooooooong time.

    2. Re:bullet matching software by Captoo · · Score: 1

      I'm sure they would have a use for software that searches a database for a match of just about any kind of evidence. They may want to identify a fingerprint, paint chip, tire mark, foot print, tool mark, behavioral pattern, hair spray sample, doughnut crumb, etc. I know they already have software to search fingerprint databases, but I bet they would love another tool that would help with one of the other evidence types.

  5. Ah, thought you meant computer forensics... by biglig2 · · Score: 2

    ...which is of course an entirely different thing.

    Pity, since I read the other day that one of the UK universities is setting up courses in computer forensics.

    --
    ~~~~~ BigLig2? You mean there's another one of me?
  6. Physics Modeling.... by josquint · · Score: 3, Insightful

    There's a bunch of database/comparison software out there... so no big need to reinvent those.

    However, one thing I'd like more of would be physics/event recreation and modeling. Granted, it's very complex stuff. But to be able to analyze blood splatters, glass breakage, etc in software would be great. Although manual inspection usually suffices, putting events together in one similation would be benificial, especially giving a deposition.

  7. some resources that i have used by dfelznic · · Score: 2
    Hello, THere is a forensics mailing list on security foucus. Also check out dan farmer and weiste's coroners toolkit. Three books that I like in order are:

    Know Your Enemy: Revealing the Security...

    Computer Forensics

    Hacker's Challenge

    the hackers challenge is a little weak on info sometimes. A lot of the challenges are deduced from info that they don't give you...

    --
    Douglas Calvert
    1. Re:some resources that i have used by Cy+Guy · · Score: 3, Informative

      Yes, it appears that several people are misinterpreting the questioning. He wants Computer resources for criminal forensics (stufy of blood spatters, bullet casings, fingerprints, etc. things you find on CSI or Crossing Jordan. You and other have identified information on Forensic Computing (HD recovery, decrypting passwords, etc.)

      What he is looking is sites like: SPEX Forensic Light Sources and AFIS/APIS, Imaging Forensics,Interpol's Forensics Info page, or Zeno's Forensic Forum (this last site has a bunch of links to explore further).

      Of course, to get to these you also have to avoid all the sites that relate to Forensics, the scientific term given to debate team.

      --
      Work for Change & GET PAID!