Vol. 17, No. 37, March 14, 2005

IN THIS ISSUE:

This Reveille Home Page | The Friday Program: Computer Forensics and Investigations | Rock Bottom BBRC Fellowship St. Patrick's Day! | Retreat Update | Rotary Foundation Recognition | Friday Potpourri | Supporting Agros | New Member Proposed: Kelly Nolan | Student of the Month: Kayla Brown | Corporate Sponsors Being Rounded Up | Web Fun

The Friday Program:
Computer Forensics and Investigations

Frank Enfinger, a professor at North Seattle Community College, ran into technical problems while trying to explain the complicated topic of “Computer Forensics and Investigations.” His computer projector failed at the beginning of his presentation and Lingenprojo jumped to the rescue. Steve is the only guy we know who carries a computer projector on his person. With help from Steve Waltar and Steve Peters, the Three Steves Technical Team (no relation to the Four Sopranos) quickly solved the problem by placing Professor Enfinger’s projector on eBay.

Enfinger is a professor of Forensics. He dryly opened his talk with the statement that Forensics is “like watching paint dry.” In other words, the TV show CSI is “blown a little out of context.”

He pointed out that forensics have become a vital part of actual investigations by law enforcement through the world, and the computer is assisting in extracting information crucial to cases. “From fraud to murder to identifying sexual predators, new technology available today is putting a dent in criminal activity.”

Enfinger explained that to get evidence off a computer, the data is seized as digital evidence and then brought back to a lab where forensic workers utilize password recovery tool kits to peel back up to “13 layers of files. Even if the file has been deleted, it still rests on the hard drive and these new tools can uncover these layers which turn up as evidence.”

The tools break passwords and encryption that are on each file. “It’s been particularly effective in breaking child porn cases, uncovering emails, phishing scams and other fraudulent use of the computer.”

Enfinger said that evidence of corporate scandals, bank skimming and other unlawful acts has been extracted to bring criminals to justice. To show how serious the forensic effort is, Enfinger displayed what he called the “dongle,” which are keys that give access to the computer’s system. Enfinger wears his “dongle” dangled around his neck. (Brings back memories of an old song of my childhood ­ “I got keys that dongle, dangle, dingle, as I go merrily after crooks and frauds ...”)

Enfinger received the BBRC Rotary First Harvest Certificate for his presentation, noting a gift of 1220 pounds of fresh produce had been donated in his name to area food banks.

Thanks to Jim Gordon for his introduction.

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