Digital Forensic News & Events

Bringing investigators digital forensics and cybersecurity related news from around the world. #AllinForensics

The Use of Digital Forensic Software in Investigating Crimes Against Children

June 23, 2023

Digital forensic software is a powerful investigative tool that law enforcement and investigators have turned to for solving crimes against children. Perpetrators have found new avenues to exploit and harm vulnerable children by obtaining sexually explicit content.

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Combating CSAM and Human Trafficking: Digital Forensic Tools for Protecting Vulnerable Individuals

May 22, 2023

CSAM  or child sexual abuse material refers to any visual media depicting children engaged in sexual activity, which is produced, distributed, or accessed for sexual gratification or profit.

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Tackling Human Trafficking in the Digital Age

March 1, 2023

In recent years, law enforcement and investigators have had to significantly adjust their approach to tackling human trafficking in the face of rapid digitalization.

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What is OSEC? (Online Sexual Exploitation of Children)

January 4, 2023

Online sexual exploitation of children or OSEC is the sexual abuse of children that may be streamed over the internet and the abuser receives payment for the content.

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How ADF Can Assist With Prosecutors’ CSAM Cases

December 1, 2022

Child sexual abuse material or CSAM has become the more common term for child pornography. The term accurately captures the reality of these images and videos. CSAM is distributed heavily through online channels. It has become easier for individuals to perpetuate these videos and images through multiple platforms. These platforms can include social media, online gaming, and email [1]. 

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Meet Larry Cameron, CISO at Anti-Human Trafficking Intelligence Initiative

July 18, 2022

The Anti-Human Trafficking Intelligence Initiative (ATII) is at the forefront of combating global human trafficking. ATII harnesses the power of corporate social responsibility by working with organizations to raise awareness, build intelligence, and foster technology advancements and strategic data collaboration to help stop human trafficking.

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7 ICAC Investigation Best Practices

May 11, 2022

Today's access to technology and the Internet is unfortunately making it easier for cyber criminals to commit crimes can oftentimes go undetected. It is the job of ICAC Task Forces, high tech crime units and police leaders to find the most effective ways to fight cybercrime and protect children.  

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5 Reasons Why You Need to Invest in Computer Forensics Software

March 31, 2022

Many are not aware of the common threats/investigations that officers, analysts, and investigators face on-scene or in the lab and how computer forensics software can help solve these investigations.

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How to Stop Human Trafficking: Anti-Human Trafficking Investigations

January 5, 2022

Stopping human trafficking and modern slavery is a priority for many law enforcement agencies around the world, with specialized investigators leading the fight. The Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign defines human trafficking as involving the "use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the United States. It can happen in any community and victims can be of any age, race, gender, or nationality. Traffickers might use violence, manipulation, or false promises of well-paying jobs or romantic relationships to lure victims into trafficking situations."

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ATII Announces Winners of Global Dark Web Hackathon

December 22, 2021

ADF Solutions’ partner recently held a global Dark Web Hackathon in advance of Human Trafficking Awareness Month. The Anti-Human Trafficking Intelligence Initiative (ATII) the organization that combats human trafficking through increasing awareness, facilitating intelligence integration & technology advancement, and encouraging strategic data collaboration, today announced the winners of the inaugural annual Darkwebathon. The five-day virtual event attracted more than 330 registrants and generated thousands of reports sharing the ultimate goal of creating actionable intelligence so that law enforcement agencies can be equipped with real data to make arrests. 

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ICAC Investigations with ADF Tools

December 17, 2021

Investigating crimes against children has been at the forefront of law enforcement’s initiatives to dedicate the specialized manpower and equipment in order to battle this issue. It is not an easy issue to tackle as it manifests in many different ways and sometimes requires three or more specialized units working together to bring the offenders to justice and then another specialized unit to manage the offenders after release. On top of all the investigation time, we add digital devices to the mix, used to commit and perpetrate these crimes. When it comes time to conduct a search warrant, knock and talk, interview, or victim/witness statement, investigators need a solution to find the relevant data, minimize the number of devices brought back to the lab, minimize the impact to victims, witnesses, and innocent family members. 

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2021 NW ICAC Conference

October 6, 2021

The 2021 Northwest Regional Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Conference has returned this year. The conference is a multi-state, multi-disciplinary Internet Crimes Against Children event which provides training to prosecutors, digital forensic examiners, sheriffs, police investigators and ICAC Task Force members.  

Dates: October 6-8, 2021

Location: Redmond, WA

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Using CAID Hashes in a Child Sexual Abuse Material Investigation

April 27, 2021

Digital Media Investigators throughout the United Kingdom rely on the Child Abuse Image Database (CAID) in their digital investigations involving Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM)

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2021 National Cyber Crime Conference

April 14, 2021

The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office (AGO) has announced the dates for the NCCC  2021 National Cyber Crime Conference (MASS.gov).

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The Best Smartphone Triage: Field or Lab

March 4, 2021

Smartphone Triage is becoming more and more important with the exponential increase in the number of devices and explosion of digital data. Mobile device forensic examiners can use smartphone triage as a first step in early case assessment of incoming devices. 

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Digital Forensics Age Detection and Facial Analysis

February 12, 2021

Crimes against children investigations can lead CSAM investigators to have to review thousands or even tens of thousands of images. Investigators need tools to help them find relevant evidence quickly. 

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Facial Analytics Capabilities Speed Child Exploitation Investigations

February 8, 2021

ADF Solutions, the leading provider of automated forensic software for investigators and lab examiners, today announced the ability for on-scene and lab investigators to leverage the facial analytics and age detection capabilities of Suspect Technologies to speed child exploitation and human trafficking investigations. 

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Using Philanthropy to Protect Children and Help Stop Human Trafficking

December 2, 2020

The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has changed all of our lives in many ways, including our ability to give back. In the midst of the holiday season, this is a time where people often reflect on the year and contemplate giving. So often, many of us volunteer at food pantries, organize toy drives, participate in charity fun runs, or find ways to participate in community service with others. 

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5 ICAC Investigation Best Practices (UPDATED JULY 2022)

November 5, 2020

Today's access to technology and the Internet is unfortunately making it easier for cyber criminals to commit crimes can oftentimes go undetected. It is the job of ICAC Task Forces, high tech crime units and police leaders to find the most effective ways to fight cybercrime and protect children.  

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ADF and ATII Join Forces to Combat Human Trafficking (UPDATED August 2022)

August 26, 2020

ADF launches New Law Enforcement Capabilities to Speed Modern Slavery Investigations  

Bethesda, Maryland: ADF Solutions’ new Anti-Human Trafficking Search Profiles were built in conjunction with the Anti-Human Trafficking Intelligence Initiative (ATII) to help law enforcement quickly identify and investigate human trafficking at the scene of the crime. 

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How to Prepare a Sanitized CSAM Report (UPDATED August 2022)

August 20, 2020

Learn how to easily remove CSAM images and other properties from view

One of the most important factors in a child exploitation investigation, is having the ability to show a report to a colleague, co-worker, prosecutor, or present to present your findings in court without re-victimizing the subject of the photo, or shocking the sense of the viewer of the report. Having a professional report that still reflects the properties that need to be presented is essential to your case.

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Cyber Response for Missing Child Investigations: NCPTF Conference

June 22, 2020

This week kicks off the 2020 National Child Protection Task Force Conference. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, NCPTF has moved the conference and training online as a virtual event with the focus on cyber response for missing child investigations. The topic is of vital importance since so many children around the world are online and at increased risk during the pandemic.

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Child Sexual Exploitation, Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking

June 3, 2020

Child sexual exploitation and modern slavery are related aspects of human trafficking which result in the commercial exploitation of children and often being victims of Child Sexual Abuse Material creation as well.  

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ADF Solutions Releases Screen Capture for Field Investigators

May 18, 2020

ADF’s newest software versions include new field tablet capabilities and smartphone collection features 

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What is CEM? Terminology, Law, and Technology in Australia

April 20, 2020

What is CEM

In Australian states and territories, CEM refers to “Child Exploitation Material”, otherwise known as child abuse material, child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and child pornography. For digital forensic examiners, telecommunications-based child exploitation includes viewing, copying, downloading, sending, exchanging, soliciting, and making CEM. 

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Meet Rich Brown from Project VIC International

March 26, 2020

Putting Victims First. That’s the message that Richard W. Brown, the CEO of Project VIC International impressed upon me when I had the opportunity to speak to him about how and why he helped found the non-profit organization which helps law enforcement agencies around the world fight child exploitation. 

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What is CAID: The Child Abuse Image Database in the UK

March 18, 2020

The Child Abuse Image Database (CAID) is the United Kingdom’s national system used by law enforcement to help fight the growing problem of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). The system helps police detect, flag and analyse illegal digital media images. 

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What is CSAM? Key Terminology in the Fight Against Child Exploitation

March 4, 2020

Child pornography- more properly identified as Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). It’s appalling that there is a need for a definition for this kind of material. U.S. Federal Law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor- meaning any person less than 18 years old. 

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The END Network Abuse Act and the Fight Against Child Exploitation

February 12, 2020

The numbers surrounding pornographic images of children, and the child abuse that creates it, are so staggering that it’s difficult not to be disheartened. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), their cyber tipline received over 42.9 million reports by November 2018. NCMEC had also reviewed over 267 million images and videos, and identified over 15,800 victims of online child exploitation and abuse.

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OJJDP Announces New Wounded Veterans Hiring for ICAC Task Forces

February 3, 2020

As communities search for new ways to employ wounded, injured, or ill special operations veterans, there's a new federal government program that offers hope. 

The program which provides financial support for communities seeking to further increase their effectiveness in the fight against child exploitation is run by the U.S. Department of Justice. Communities will benefit in two key ways: 

  1. Employ wounded veterans paid for via federal grant money
  2. Help communities fight the ever growing battle to stop child exploitation
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2020 National Cyber Crime Conference

January 13, 2020

The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office (AGO) has announced the dates for the NCCC  2020 National Cyber Crime Conference (MASS.gov).

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2019 Northwest ICAC Conference at Microsoft

October 8, 2019

 

October 2019 kicks off with the 5th Annual Northwest Regional ICAC Conference, a multi-state, multi-disciplinary event designed to provide lecture and lab training to prosecutors, digital forensic lab examiners, and law enforcement investigators focused on the investigation and prosecution of technology and Internet facilitated crimes against children. 

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Learn How To Filter Digital Forensic Scan Results in ADF Software

August 26, 2019

In this short 5 minute video, you'll learn how to filter digital forensic scan results in ADF software. Filtering is available in any table while analyzing any of your scan results. In this how-to video, we'll look at:

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ADF and Project VIC Help Investigators Stop Child Exploitation

August 12, 2019

Investigators can leverage ADF digital forensic software on the front-line to investigate and prosecute child exploitation cases

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Digital Forensic Image Recognition and Classification

July 18, 2019

Front line investigators and digital forensic examiners are encountering an ever increasing number of images in almost every investigation they perform. This exponential growth in the volume of images can challenge investigators searching for illicit online activity, Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), extremist propaganda, or other types of image content. 

In this short video, ADF digital forensic specialist, Rich Frawley, demonstrates ADF's digital forensic image recognition and classification capabilities. 

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Building Efficiency into Digital Forensic Programs

June 20, 2019

Technology has become more powerful and portable, allowing a more significant amount of information to be created, stored, and accessed. This shift in the information technology landscape (mobile, cloud, IoT, etc.) has made the collection and analysis of digital evidence a critical factor in investigating and solving virtually all types of crimes. 

There are serious Internet related crimes, that need to be investigated quickly, child exploitation related offenses for instance. For example, in the United Kingdom, the National Crime Agency recently estimated that about 140,000 out of nearly 3 million registered dark web accounts registered on child abuse sites are UK-based.

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Scan iOS Devices with Mobile Device Investigator

May 23, 2019

Learn how to quickly scan iOS devices, smartphones or tablets, in this 2 minute short "How To" video created by Rich Frawley, our Director of Digital Forensic Training. Rich will walk you through how to attach and scan an iOS device with Mobile Device Investigator® (MDI) using an iPhone.

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What is an ICAC Task Force?

May 21, 2019

Most children in the United States now have access to internet services. The internet enables children to have access to vast amounts of valuable and educative information that facilitates their growth. However, the internet further exposes children to numerous dangers. Some of the risks children are exposed to on the internet include pornography, racist, sexist, violent, and demeaning information.

These risks prompted the formation of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force program. The organization is a national network of 61 coordinated task forces that represent over 4,500 local, state, and federal law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies. The state and regional ICAC task forces are maintained and expanded by the ICAC program to address technology-facilitated child exploitation crimes.

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Heading to the 2019 National Cyber Crime Conference (NCCC)

April 22, 2019

If you're headed to the 2019 National Cyber Crime Conference in Noorwood, MA next week please make time to stop by the ADF Solutions booth to say hello and to enter our drawing for a US combat veteran, handmade keepsake from a Flag of Valor for your home or forensic lab.

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Adding Project Vic Hashes to a Search Profile

March 15, 2019

When investigating crimes against children cases, Project Vic data sets and Digital Evidence Investigator® (DEI) go hand in hand.

DEI and ADF's other forensic triage and investigation tools give investigators and examiners the ability to categorize image and video media fast -- which is paramount in the fight against child exploitation.

Whether you are an ICAC, CAC, or affiliate task force, DEI is the best tool to help you investigate CSAM / CEM and solve internet crimes against children. In the short 6-minute video below, ADF's digital forensic trainer is going to show you how easy it is to add Project Vic datasets or hashes to a Search Profile.

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