dead-box forensics (noun) [Word Notes]

Summary

Episode Summary: Dead-Box Forensics

Podcast Title: Hacking Humans
Host/Author: N2K Networks
Episode Title: Dead-Box Forensics
Release Date: December 31, 2024
Description: Delving into deception, influence, and social engineering within the realm of cybercrime, this episode explores the intricacies of modern digital forensics.

---

Introduction to Dead-Box Forensics

The episode opens with Rick Howard introducing the concept of "dead-box forensics," a pivotal technique in the field of digital investigations. Dead-box forensics combines the meticulous process of imaging disconnected, read-only devices with in-depth offline analysis to uncover critical digital evidence.

Rick Howard [00:51]: "Deadbox forensics is a forensic technique where practitioners capture an entire image of a system and analyze the contents offline."

This method ensures that all data, including metadata and unallocated space, remains unaltered, preserving the integrity of the evidence for legal proceedings.

---

Historical Context of Digital Forensics

Tracing back to its origins, Rick Howard references Mark Pollitt's 2010 paper, A History of Digital Forensics, highlighting the emergence of computer forensics in the late 1970s. Initially spearheaded by the IRS and FBI, the field recognized the burgeoning potential of personal computers and the Internet as new frontiers for evidence collection.

Rick Howard [01:30]: "By the mid-1980s, the personal computer market and the fledgling Internet began to grow exponentially, making home computers a treasure trove of digital evidence."

As technology advanced, so did the sophistication of forensic techniques, emphasizing the necessity to preserve digital evidence meticulously to ensure its admissibility in court.

---

Principles and Practices in Dead-Box Forensics

Referencing the scholarly work by Bahesh Kohli and Purnima Acharao in Live versus Dead Computer Forensic Image Acquisition, the episode delves into best practices for creating forensic images:

1. Data Preservation: The imaging process must avoid altering any data on the disk. This includes all active data, metadata, and even unallocated space.
2. System Shutdown: Powering down the system before hardware extraction prevents modifications from ongoing operations or user interactions.
3. Use of Write Blockers: Connecting the removed hard drive to a forensic workstation equipped with write blockers ensures that no data can be written back to the disk, maintaining its pristine state.

Rick Howard [02:15]: "Using a write blocker during evidence acquisition preserves the integrity of the data and metadata on the system. The community refers to this process as dead imaging."

These meticulous steps are fundamental in ensuring that the evidence remains uncontaminated and legally viable.

---

Expert Insights: Chuck Pruitt on Digital Evidence Recovery

A significant portion of the episode features insights from Chuck Pruitt, a seasoned digital forensic specialist, as featured on The Investigation Discovery YouTube channel in 2009.

Chuck Pruitt [03:42]: "Digital evidence recovery is the new DNA. People think they deleted it. It's gone and it's not."

Chuck emphasizes the misconception that deleted digital data is irretrievable. Through specialized software and forensic techniques, even intentionally erased information can be recovered and analyzed.

He elaborates on the depth of information accessible through forensic examinations:

Chuck Pruitt [03:50]: "You learn a lot about a person—who they email, financial information, their love life, you name it, it's there."

This comprehensive access allows investigators to build detailed profiles of subjects, aiding in constructing cases that can stand up in court.

Furthermore, Chuck reflects on the ethical and motivational aspects of his work:

Chuck Pruitt [04:05]: "We know what we're doing is the right thing, and we know that in the end, the victim's glad we did it."

His dedication underscores the critical role that dead-box forensics plays in upholding justice and protecting victims.

---

Conclusion

The episode of Hacking Humans meticulously unpacks the concept and application of dead-box forensics in the modern digital landscape. From its historical roots to the advanced practices employed by today's forensic specialists, listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of how digital evidence is meticulously preserved and analyzed. Expert testimonies, like that of Chuck Pruitt, highlight the profound impact of these techniques in solving cybercrimes and delivering justice.

---

Note: Advertisements, introductions, and credit sections have been omitted to focus solely on the episode's core content.

Transcript

[Rick Howard]

You're listening to the Cyberwire Network powered by N2K.

[Nyla Genoi]

The IT world used to be simpler. You only had to secure and manage environments that you controlled. Then came new technologies and new ways to work. Now employees, apps and networks are everywhere. This means poor visibility, security gaps and added risk. That's why Cloudflare created the first ever connectivity cloud. Visit cloudflare.com to protect your business everywhere you do business.

[Rick Howard]

The word is deadbox Forensics spelled deadbox for a disconnected read only device and forensics for investigation. Definition A forensic technique where practitioners capture an entire image of a system and analyze the contents offline. Example Sentence Forensic investigators conduct search and seizure operations that involve pulling the power on a suspect's machine and performing dead box forensics to inspect the contents of the disk and identify artifacts of interest, origin, and context. According to Mark Pollitt in his paper A History of Digital forensics, published in 2010, computer forensics probably emerged in the late 1970s as the American Internal Revenue Service, or IRS and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or FBI started to dip their toes in finding evidence on computers. But by the mid-1980s, the personal computer market and the fledgling Internet began to grow exponentially. Law enforcement personnel from around the world started to realize that these new home computers would be a treasure trove of digital evidence in the future. One of the forensic principles that emerged early was the thought of preserving digital evidence so that it could be used in a court of law. In the paper Live versus Dead Computer Forensic Image Acquisition, Bahesh Kohli and Purnima Acharao said that in order to create a forensic image of an entire disk, best practice dictates that the imaging process should not alter any data on the disk and that all data, metadata and unallocated space should be included, end quote. Forensic investigators accomplish this by powering down the system and removing hard drives in order to connect it to a forensic workstation that has a write blocker capability. Write blockers prevent any data from being written to the disk. Removing a disk from a running system prevents any further changes due to normal system operations or process and user interactions. Using a write blocker during evidence acquisition preserves the integrity of the data and metadata on the system. The community refers to this process as dead imaging. Nerd Reference on The Investigation Discovery YouTube channel in 2009, Chuck Pruitt, a digital forensic specialist, discussed the early history of his job.

[Chuck Pruitt]

Digital evidence recovery is the new DNA. People think they deleted it. It's gone and it's not. No one ever thought to analyze computers until the last decade or so we physically remove the hard drive. Our software will allow us to pull up that deleted information, and then we sit down and have to go through it file by file. There's just all kinds of information. People just don't think about what they're doing when they're using a computer. You learn a lot about a person who they email, financial information, their love life, you name it, it's there. I don't know if you need to get into the mindset, but I think you develop an idea of what they're like by seeing what's on their computer. And boom, you got them just like that. I just work the case and find the necessary information and it all comes together in the big picture to put the people away. We know what we're doing is the right thing, and we know that in the end, the victim's glad we did it.

[Rick Howard]

Word Notes is written by Nyla Genoi, executive produced by Peter Kilpe and edited by John Petrick and me, Rick Howard. The mixed sound, design and original score have all been crafted by the ridiculously talented Elliot Peltzman. Thanks for listening.

[Nyla Genoi]

The IT world used to be simpler. You only had to secure and manage environments that you controlled. Then came new technologies and new ways to work. Now employees, apps and networks are everywhere. This means poor visibility, security gaps, and added risk. That's why Cloudflare created the first ever connectivity cloud. Visit cloudflare.com to protect your business. Everywhere you do business.