Operation Stop Hack
Suppose you have recently responded to your first computer forensic incident. The case in question involves a potential underground hacking ring, which the police, working in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have been investigating for several years. It has since been determined that an IP address confirms that location, and the identity of one of the suspects. Warrants have been issued for the search and seizure of all electronic devices found on the premises.
View the setup found in the suspect's home Download setup found in the suspect's home. Then document your findings and secure all relevant evidence.
Instructions
Write a 2–3 page paper in which you:
Investigate the legal statutes involved in this type of case and outline specific legal considerations to take when collecting evidence.
Pre-plan how to approach the crime scene, documenting the steps and procedures to process the digital evidence.
Analyze the crime scene diagram and document and tag each device that will be collected for evidence, specifying the importance of each device.
Sample Solution
Legal Considerations:
- Fourth Amendment: The search and seizure of electronic devices must be conducted with a valid warrant issued by a judge. The warrant must specifically describe the devices and data to be collected.
- Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA): This law governs the interception and access of electronic communications, including email and internet browsing history. For real-time data, additional warrants may be needed.
- Federal Rule of Evidence 803(7): This rule allows for the admissibility of business records generated by computers without the need for human authentication. This can be crucial for digital evidence.
- Cybersecurity Incident Response Procedures: Organizations, including law enforcement, should have established procedures for handling cybercrime incidents to ensure proper evidence collection and chain of custody.
Full Answer Section
Crime Scene Approach:
1. Pre-Entry:
- Review the warrant and target identification details.
- Identify potential risks like booby traps or malware countermeasures.
- Prepare evidence collection tools and containers.
- Coordinate with law enforcement officers present on the scene.
2. Scene Entry and Processing:
- Establish and secure the perimeter of the scene.
- Document the scene with photographs and videography.
- Identify and isolate potential evidence-bearing devices (computers, mobile phones, storage media).
- Avoid powering on or manipulating devices unless necessary to prevent data loss.
- Disconnect devices from networks to prevent remote wiping or data destruction.
3. Evidence Collection:
- Tag and document each device with identification numbers.
- Maintain a chain of custody form to track the movement of each device.
- Use forensic imaging tools to create bit-for-bit copies of hard drives and storage media.
- Collect additional evidence like handwritten notes, passwords, or network configurations.
Device Analysis:
1. Personal Computer (PC):
- Importance: The primary device for hacking activities; likely to contain logs, attack tools, victim data, and communication records.
- Collection: Forensic image of hard drive, RAM acquisition if possible, documentation of software installations and network connections.
2. Mobile Phones:
- Importance: Could contain communication with co-conspirators, access logs, financial transactions related to cybercrime.
- Collection: Forensic image of storage, call logs, text messages, app data analysis.
3. External Storage Devices:
- Importance: May contain backups of sensitive data, attack scripts, or cryptocurrency wallets.
- Collection: Forensic image of external drives, memory cards, flash drives.
4. Router and Network Equipment:
- Importance: Can reveal internet traffic patterns, connected devices, and potential vulnerabilities exploited.
- Collection: Configuration files, logs, network device settings.
5. Paper Documents:
- Importance: Handwritten notes, diagrams, passwords, printed logs, could provide crucial context and corroborating evidence.
- Collection: Securely collect and document all found documents.
Conclusion:
Collecting digital evidence in a hacking case requires meticulous planning, legal awareness, and careful handling of electronic devices. By following established procedures and utilizing appropriate tools, investigators can successfully secure crucial evidence for prosecuting cybercriminals and protecting victims. Further analysis of the collected data will reveal the extent of the hacking ring's activities and identify additional suspects. This case underscores the increasing importance of digital forensics in combating cybercrime and upholding justice in the digital age.