Dual Sims Coming In 2010!

Want to have both your Business AND Personal calls coming in on the same phone?
http://tinyurl.com/ybexv2n

Customer sues Palm/Sprint Over Lost Data!

Be careful how much faith you place in a company's BackUp plan, especially if it's in a "cloud".
http://tinyurl.com/yb8zzbv

Mobile Spyware Discovery Workshop Now Available!

After numerous requests across America, I am offering

Mobile Spyware Discovery and Eradication Workshops
(ie: bug detection on a cell phone and how to get rid of it!)

These Workshops are geared to provide Law Professionals the tools and knowledge they need to examine a cell phone for mobile spyware (aka "Bugs"). This is a fast paced and fully loaded 8 hours of training with 8 hours CEU's provided by my State Police!
For more information, click HERE

The Real Google Phone !

And here we thought T-Mobile had the real deal. Apparently not: Google is slated to release the true "Google Phone" with a whole new version of Android on it. When will it end???
http://tinyurl.com/yjqtqpu

Accept Credit Cards with Your Cell Phone!

Looking for a way to accept credit card payments from your friends, clients, etc? Want to have your receipt emailed to you?
You may want to look at the SQUARE.
Twitter Inventor Jack Dorsey has invented a novel way to take Credit Card payments in person using your cell phone.

Check it out.....http://tinyurl.com/y9xps3q

2010: The Year of the Mobile Virus?

http://tinyurl.com/ykdhzym

"The Man In The Middle" Concept

After you read this white paper, you will think twice before hooking on to the "Free Wi-Fi" at your local coffee house or eatery! This exciting paper will open your eyes to the threats you encounter daily and probably do not think about!


Go to this site and download the PDF paper. http://tinyurl.com/yazzh3h

I'd also be interested to hear your views about this new concept.

Write me at:
tom@cellularforensics.com and tell me what you think.

New Term: "Textual Harassment!"

Read On!

http://tinyurl.com/ykfpks7

Does Your Phone Smell Phishy?

Some hackers are hoping that the owners of "Smart Phones" act dumb with them!
Now, sing with me:
"Phish heads, phish heads, rolly polly phish heads...!"
http://tinyurl.com/yh9r6v9

"Same Song, Different Verse...."

Cell Phones are the "New Frontier" for hackers, scam artists and thieves.
The same warnings you have been given concerning a computer can be translated to your cell phone:
1. Don't open any attachment if you are not positive as to it's origin
2. Don't respond to an email or text message that asks you for personal information

As the saying goes "Nothing is safe in silicon".

http://tinyurl.com/ydraj77

How To Find Owner of Phone Number

There's more than one way to skin a cat, they say.
So, there are also more than one site to try to
identify a phone number. But at least you can try these!
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/top-8-online-tools-to-identify-the-owner-of-a-phone-number/

GADGETS OFFER CLUES IN
CASEY ANTHONY, TRACY
OCASIO, BOB WARD
CASES!
http://tinyurl.com/ylx2wze

Seeing Through Walls with Radio Waves!

Experiment from University of Utah shows a new concept in locating someone in a building/room using wireless signals. Cool beans!

Got a SideKick and T-Mobile?

Now don't get me wrong: I like T-Mobile!

Did you know that last year they had the #1 customer service rating for cell phone service providers in the USA?

Well, it seems that those of you who got a SideKick from T-Mobile may want to check on the accessibility of the information you are thinking the Provider may have stored for you.

Here's the Article: http://tinyurl.com/yguozfx

Now you see why I am a big proponent for immediate " MOBILE TRIAGE" of a phone in an investigation and the backing up of your personal mobile phone on your computer (and then safety storing a copy of it in your safe!)!

Could Your iPhone Be Spying on You?

Be careful what you download! Click this link for more info!
http://tinyurl.com/qw2pwe

Obama Bans Texting in Gov't Vehicles! And More...!

http://tinyurl.com/yap359r

Computer Screens, Wandering Eyes and GPS TRACKERS

The "Eyes" have it...well, your computer screen that is.
Here's some new software available that is suppose to help keep those '
'wandering office eyes' in their sockets and not on your info!
Check it out! Click on the EYES


ALSO, If you are a PI and you use GPS TRACKERS, might I suggest you read this article:
http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/29/2906.asp. Just remember, though your state may not have any legislation on gps trackers being used by private citizens, there is ALWAYS a first time.
Do you want to be a test case?

Ordering Pizza in 2012!

Could it be that we are allowing too much of our private information to be distributed?
Look at this and think it over!
Click on the Pizza above!

Mobile Phone Spyware!

If you don't believe me, maybe you'll believe this guy!
1 in 63 mobile phones are bugged!
Click HERE

By the way, my company does Spyware Detection on Mobile Phones!

Cool Stuff!

Undoubtedly, "necessity is the mother of inventions"
Check this out! You'll think of this page next time it rains!
And, you'll slap your forehead and say,
"Why diden't I think of that!

Click here: (don't worry, it's safe!)....CLICK

Newest Spy Gadget?

"Hmmmm....Could Be!"

Check this out. Now when you are sitting in Starbucks
with your sweetie, is that guy across from you with
the earphones a PI or someone listening to his
Nano???

Guess we'll know come court time!

Click HERE for more!

Mobile Phone SPYWARE Bug in Action!

SPYWARE on a Mobile Phone

Now many of you know that I do
"Spyware Discovery Examinations".

Well, on this video you will see an actual Mobile Phone
bugged and used.

This video will show you the dangers involved with these 'bugs' and
what the suspect can get from a mobile phone.

This video has been viewed over 4.5 Million Times!

So wake up cell phone companies, this IS a real threat!

Click the YouTube picture to see the show!

Oh, and that guy on the video named, Rick Mislan?
That is the Number One Mobile Phone Forensics Expert in the USA!

How to Properly Cut Up a Credit Card

GETTING RID OF OLD CREDIT CARDS?

http://bit.ly/nhxjt

It's not enough to just cut them, you need to cut them the right way!

Just Remember...

No, I do not know who "bunnie" is but I got to give credit where credit is due!

As long as we use anything remotely related to a computer (laptop, CELL PHONE, PDA, thumb drive, etc), there will always be the potential for leakage and compromise.

So, "let's be careful out there" --Hill Street Blues

Translate Text Messages!

Got a child who's text messages you can't read??
Well help is on the way. transL8it!
Check it out. It was so cool I could not let it get by!

I just had to tell you!

And You Thought SKYPE was safe???

What's the Big HYPE with SKYPE?!

So you've hung around with me long enough to know that many of today's newest cell phones can be 'bugged'...now I throw in another monkey wrench...SKYPE.

Don't believe me? Check out this article
http://tinyurl.com/lg2zyy

(our thanks to Austin Troxell of South Carolina for forwarding this article to us)

Keep those cards and letters coming ya'll!

Email me at: tom@cellularforensics.com

Bluetooth Security! Are You at Risk?

Bluetooth Security:

Face it, we all love going around looking like Star Trek
operators with our little blinking receivers in our ear!

But do you know the risks that earpiece imposes on your
phone's security?

Check out this article on Gadgetell. I could not have said
it any better!

http://tinyurl.com/lgzs53

BONUS:
If that article was not enough: check this one out: http://tinyurl.com/d6syku

Study to Show Lack of Cell Phone Security!

Just when you thought it was safe to go into public with your iPhone or Blackberry!

Now there's someone who wants to show the industry that your cell phone calls are unsafe, subject to interception and can be decrypted.

On a personal note: I respect what the man is trying
to prove. I have been yelling about the lack of safety in
cell phones for a year now. Some have listened, others
have turned a deaf ear. My personal thoughts are that
the wireless industry does not care but is rather more
concerned with making the "Benjamins" than keeping
your calls safe. No, I have no documentation of this on
hand, it's just my gut feeling. Take it for what it's worth.
It's my opinion.

Just remember, anything 'floating' around in the air (like your wireless calls, texts, etc.) is subject to interception. Think of your call as a football thrown in the air and the other side trying to get it. Catch my drift?

Go to this link to read more: http://tinyurl.com/n7jvrx

Want to know what language something is written in?

Well here's a nifty site to check it out!

langid

Nasty Virus/Malware You Need To Know About!

HERE

Don't say I didn't warn you!

"Killer Chip"

If you are a lover of science fiction, or just want to keep up on the latest happenings in the field of science, read this article on the development of the "Killer Chip" HERE. This is fascinating stuff!

So tell me, what do you think? Is it 'do-able' in today's age? Or is it just junk? Do you think a government has already implemented this type of technology?

Tell me what you think!

Special thanks to my good friend, Paul Baur, for sending this to me!

FREE Stuff!

"FREE!" Now that I have your attention...LOL!

If you are looking for a nifty way to spice up your cell phone's voice mail and a new way to answer your calls, take a look at YouMail.com. This free service has a number of comical and business answering options AND it will email you when you have a message AND you can play the message right off the internet! A couple of us have been playing with this service and one cool thing we found is that if you download your contacts to it, when someone calls you, the caller I.D. greets them by name...something like this: "Hey [your name], Tom is not available right now, but leave a message at the tone..".

Not bad for free, huh?

Mobile Forensics World '09 Conference!

If you are seriously interested in Mobile Forensics (aka: cell phone data recovery), then this is the Conference for you! Sponsored by Purdue University, this conference features many of the greatest minds in mobile forensics. And...if you have no training in this field but want to get started, my guru and friend, Professor Rick Mislan, will be offering his two day Mobile Forensics training class right before the conference (and he's giving a sweet, discount as well). Rick is the premier trainer in mobile forensics. He has trained countless police and federal agencies and is a consultant to many in the 'private sector'. Here's the links:

• Mobile Forensics World 09 Conference
• Rick Mislan's Mobile Forensics Training Seminar

I am honored to be a speaker at this conference. I will be lecturing on Cell Phone Spy-Ware.
For those of you new to the field of mobile forensics, this will be a real eye opener. Presently there are over 500 malwares for cell phones. Cell phone bugging is a real problem. I get many calls about 'bugged' phones from all across the USA.

In my 2 Hour session, I will be answering such questions as:

• What types of Spy-Wares are available to a criminal?
• How does the criminal get the spy-ware on to the phone?
• How do you know if your phone is 'bugged"?
• How do you find the spy-ware and eliminate it?

I hope to see you at the Conference!

"Haunting, Chilling and Real"

These words in my intro describe this book I just completed reading late last night. Science Fiction? No! This book is based on reality. Imagine in one second the USA being transformed from a Super Power to a medieval land where food is scarce and danger is prevalent and a way of life.

Have you looked at today's headlines? About the power grid threat? There are too many parallels between reality and this book to cast what Mr. Forstchen ascribes as fiction. This work is based on fact. Facts that the USA turns a blind eye to but could happen in the blink of an eye.

I am still haunted by scenes from it. It could very well happen today. Are you ready?

It Rings, It Texts, It SHAVES!

Yes my friends, it does shave. Welcome the new RAZOR (not RAZR) phone! Remember, you saw it here!

"Honey, Where's My Thumbdrive?!"

Those of us in "Mobile Security" have enough to contend with just with the phones alone. It has been reported that every 3 days a new cell phone model emerges. Add that to the already 1600 models swimming around out there and you can see why my head feels like I'm on a perpetual roller coaster!

Now, lets add to this heap: "Thumb Drives" that are lost by employees due to carelessness. Check out this article. This could be a company's worst nightmare. While we are busy trying to secure the laptops and phones, have we done enough to secure these tiny usb drives that contain an organization's secrets?

"Do you know where your Thumb Drive is?" Excuse me while I search for mine!

WARNING! IT's Coming!

A Blessing or a Curse?

Usually on this Blog I am upbeat and try to be lighthearted (not light-headed!).
But this topic is of a serious nature: "Cloud Computing". I am not a Prophet but I do forsee this being a new "bump in the legal road" that PI's, Attorneys, Law Enforcement and Corporate Security will have to deal with. It will be another "land to conquer" for legal professionals. Like we don't have enough troubles with over 1600 models of cell phones out there??

Here is an article for your consideration on this new technology: click HERE. Pay special attention to the Comment made after the article by Bigsey.

There is also a new Phone I want you to be aware of that will utilize a form of "Cloud Computing" upon it's introduction into the market place: the new Palm Pre.

There's one thing about my Cellular Forensics World: it's never stagnant! Like the weather, it changes all the time. Now I got to start watching the Clouds!

Got Verizon? You better read THIS!

If you have Verizon Wireless, you need to read about this:

Do you want them selling info about you that they got from your phone?
Read THIS

What Does a SIM Card Hold?

As a Cellular Forensics Examiner, I have examined a lot of SIM Cards. Briefly I want to give you some basic information on a SIM Card to help you:

1. A SIM Card is used on GSM networks (like T-Mobile and AT&T here in the USA. Verizon will use one for their "World Phone" since that phone is made for going into other portions of the world where the GSM network is used). So why is that helpful? Well, a SIM Card holds information as you will see in Tip #2. As a P.I., Police Officer or an Attorney presented with a suspect phone, if you know what network the phone uses, right off the bat you will know what types of memory are on the phone and where the information can be stored.

2. A SIM Card holds valuable information about the subscriber besides his/her phone number, ie:

• Text Messages
• Phone Contacts
• Last number called with time/date
• And More!
  

NOTE: A SIM Card does NOT hold Pics or Video-PERIOD

3. A SIM Card should be handled carefully. A simple carpet spark can ERASE all the data.

4. SIM Cards have different memory values. As technology increases, so does the memory space in a card. At one time I heard of a German company that was working on a SIM Card that could carry 16 different phone lines on it. Imagine...16 lines??!!!

5. Some phones (available overseas) can have more than one SIM Card in them. Right now I know of a company that sells them for about $100 bucks. This enables the user to have two separate phone numbers on their phone.

These are just a few tips to better help you in an investigation. If I can be of further assistance, just holler at me at: tom@cellularforensics.com

Later!

Cell Phone Exam Request!

Got a request to do a cell phone examination today. Problem is...we're having a hard time finding the power button!

It's Addicting!

Sorry, but after finding this and playing it, I just could not help but post it! At least I brought some diversion to your boring cubicle...lighten up!
Elf Smack

New Blackberry App Store!

What do they say about "Copying is Flattery"?
The New BlackBerry App World
Be still my credit card!

Great Search Engine!

Okay Boys and Girls, here's a new search engine I just found.
Looking for documents on a particular subject...try 'DocJax"!
Try it.....you'll like it. And hey, leave some feedback if you like it.

VoiceMail Trick

Ever wanted to just leave a message on someones voicemail without having to talk to them? Like your ex or your boss? Well this program claims that it will take you to that phone's voicemail without ringing the phone...click here.

How to Save a Wet Phone!

Enjoy!
Click HERE

Send Email as SMS!

If you're a PI or Police Officer, and ever get a 'harassment' case dealing with a cell phone, remember this....anyone can use a computer to send an SMS text message! Yes, you heard me right. Here's the WEBSITE.

Make sure to double check the text message address before jumping to any conclusions! If someone is bent on 'setting up' another party, they could use a tool like this to their benefit. And you know how nasty some domestic cases can get!

Told You!

Last year, I told my clients that a cellphone with a projector was coming out!
See...I told you!
Look at this:
Cell Phone with Projector

What is "Cellular Forensics" Anyway?

What is "Cellular Forensics" anyway? Forensics means "pertaining to and presenting the findings in Court". Cellular? To me, that deals with mobile phones and their technology . Now I don't know if I picked this phrase up from someone else or if I made it up, but somehow I found this term "Cellular Forensics" and adopted it as my way of describing what some call "Mobile Forensics". So, when I say 'Cellular Forensics', I am describing "the utilization of technology (software, hardware, techniques) that enables an examiner to secure, acquire, document and present the data found in a mobile phone in a court of law." Sounds like a mouthful, huh?

So what good is Cellular Forensics? As we said before, "You are what you click" and a cell phone tells a bunch about a person. Contacts, Call History, SMS Text Messages and Pictures are just a few of the tell-all items in your phone. Imagine an employee sharing company secrets with the competition or a married man texting his lover...their phone information could be very damaging and valuable.

So is this like CSI on tv? Uhhh....no. There is no one piece of hardware or software that can acquire the over 1500 models of cell phones out there. Cellular Forensics is like archeology: you dig and dig using whatever proven tools you can find. Sometimes you can crack the nut, other times you come away exhausted with little to show for your efforts after hours and hours of trying everything but standing on your head. It's just par for the course in this new frontier. As my mentor Rick Mislan from Purdue University says, "Cellular Forensics is today what Computer Forensics was 15 years ago." In other words, it's a brand new field and each day is a new discovery! For someone with ADD, Cellular Forensics is a God-send! LOL!

As I often say, "The Future Is Now"!

Welcome to my world!

Hello!

A friend of mine suggested that I come up with a "Tom's Tips" sort of newsletter for all my friends after I was sending periodic emails with tips on cell phone stuff. So today, while sitting at home nursing an ailing knee (hey, I'm nearly 50!), I thought, "Why Not!" and commenced to get this puppy on line.

So welcome! I want to use this blog as a way to communicate to you what I am finding in the cell phone community. Back in 2007 I was smitten by the cell phone forensics bug (that's where we go into a phone and find all the "goodies" in the phone for court). I have been addicted since. I am totally passionate when it comes to this technology.

And guess what? "YOU ARE WHAT YOU TYPE!" Want to know the character of a person, just look in their cell phone (that is...if they'll let you!).

Face it, computers and cell phones will soon be one unit so why not know how to use these "modern miniature marvels"? What I hope to communicate to you are the little Knowledge Knuggets I am finding in this ever changing and marvelous technology that you carry on your hip.

I am also going to try to keep you abreast of where the mobile technology industry is going as well as what you should look out for so your phone is more secure and safe. Let's remember, there are more cell phone users than computer users in this world. And, to many, their mobile phones are more important to them than their heart medication! What secrets are you carrying around on your phone? What would your reaction be if you lost your phone? See what I mean? For the majority of you, your cell phone is your life.

So here we go. I want to share with you what I have learned and ever learning.

And hey, if you got a cell phone question, email me with it and let's see if we can get you an answer. Just hit me at tom@cellularforensics.com