Back up your data!

About a year ago I had a client lose all their pictures on the Hard drive f their home PC. They did not have backups and all the computer tools a typical tech guy has would not work. I had to send this out to a company that specializes in data recovery - in the end it cost $2000 and they got back ALL the data.

Recently, this happened again to another client who list their financial data in quicken. They certainly did not want to shell out $2,000 - I was hoping I could start putting the skills I have been developing in HTCIA to use. I met with the Computer Forensics Investigator for the SLO PD - he showed me plenty of tools - lucky for me this was not an easy recovery so there was alot for me to watch. In the end I was able to recover the Quicken data and have used these skills more than once on other hard drives.

Please, backup your data - and also be careful with what you store and transmit digitally.

Computer Forensics w/ the FBI

So I had a neat experience the other day, being a member of HTCIA (A law enforcement, computer forensics group) we had our monthly meeting at the FBI office in Santa Maria. It pretty cool when you have to go through three different security gates/doors all with buzzers and cameras.

I have been a member with HTCIA for three years now and have learned so much. When it comes to crime and obtaining evidence it is amazing how much stuff you can find on someone's computer, cell phone, and GPS unit.

Google Maps.. Gone Wrong

Hilarious - a modern day Internet Horror short film!
read more digg story

Bill Gates' Last Day

I was browsing around Digg.com - they now have a section for Videos and pics and came across a Microsoft video of Bill Gates' Last day in the office. Quite funny, I am sure M$ paid a pretty penny to make this. I think they are finally realizing the importance of being personal - and humor is a key way to starting a personal feeling. Bill Gates' Last Day