COFEE forensic evidence extractor
p2pnet news | Crime:- Is COFEE (Computer Online Forensic Evidence Extractor) as ominous as it appears to be?
It’s a small plug-in gadget developed by Bill and the Boyz so “investigators” can, “quickly extract forensic data from computers that may have been used in crimes,” says the Seattle Times, the corollary presumably being it could similarly be used by anyone who happens to have one (obtained from whatever source) to grab data for any purpose.
“The device contains 150 commands that can dramatically cut the time it takes to gather digital evidence, which is becoming more important in real-world crime, as well as cybercrime,” says the story, going on >>>
It can decrypt passwords and analyze a computer’s Internet activity, as well as data stored in the computer.
It also eliminates the need to seize a computer itself, which typically involves disconnecting from a network, turning off the power and potentially losing data. Instead, the investigator can scan for evidence on site.
More than 2,000 officers in 15 countries, including Poland, the Philippines, Germany, New Zealand and the United States, are using the device, which Microsoft provides free.
How nice of Microsoft.
But, admits Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith in the Seattle Times item, the gesture isn’t purely altruistic.
Rather, COFEE seems to be something of a sprat to catch a mackerel.
Microsoft benefits from selling “collaboration software and other technology” to law-enforcement agencies, “just like everybody else,” he said.
No doubt MPAA and RIAA “investigators” will be hammering on Microsoft’s doors, begging for one, if they haven’t done so already.
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.Stumble It!
Seattle Times – The end of RIAA litigation, April 30, 2008
organised music extortion outfit – Another bad day for the RIAA, April 29, 2008
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May 1st, 2008 at 10:55 am
“No doubt MPAA and RIAA “investigators” will be hammering on Microsoft’s doors, begging for one, if they haven’t done so already.”
And Microsoft, having become a RIAA/MPAA whore with their Vista, will gladly provide one.
Also, if there is a “design to test” engineering principle, why not design HARDWARE that will make it easier to collect evidence? Other two bitches of RIAA/MPAA, Intel and AMD, will do that too.
May 1st, 2008 at 10:55 am
For more info, here is the link h t t p : / / www. theinquirer. net/en/inquirer/news/2006/12/26/hd-disk-format-wars-are-over
May 1st, 2008 at 12:13 pm
And this is why anything of any importance that I have will reside on Ubuntu… eat ext3 Micrsosoft!
May 1st, 2008 at 5:29 pm
When I first saw this headline, it brought to mind P2PNet’s recent “cat-shit coffee” story. This “Cofee” is equally full of shit if they can’t admit that the “bad guys” will simply password-protect the USB ports.
May 1st, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Does the new Vista OS plant “originating computer tags” on all the files from it’s HDD?
If so, shared content might plainly point to where it originated from, and “open access” to that information would be the icing on the cake.
Opps, we “accidentally” let some keys leak out, and the RIAA “aquired” one or two.
I generally disbelieve conspiracy theories, but the RIAA has a proven track record, so in my opinion, it’s halfway plausible.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:48 pm
All the more reason for people to move to Linux or Mac.
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:18 am
Who’s the pathetic looking police type?
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:28 am
I think XP with firewall is safer, but still caution is needed for sites visited and downloads. With Vista they now have it right and probably circumvent any firewall. The only way to be sure is to block all outside communication, thus defeating the purpose of the Internet. Why worry about trojans, spyware, and viruses when Vista has it all built in.
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:38 pm
this is just a windoesn’t thing… if you’re using mac or linux, COFEE doesn’t work.
personally, i haven’t updated windows since 2000. on the other hand, i just upgraded linux yesterday.
May 4th, 2008 at 11:15 am
According to someone on Slashdot, just plugging one of these things in could render the evidence tainted and therefore unacceptable in some jurisdictions. I don’t know whether it’s true, but it sounds reasonable.
December 30th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
I love all the Microsoft bashing, I bet half of you who do bash them use their products. If think that their products are rubbish and have built in spyware why not buy a Mac or run Linux, then again any one who bashes Microsoft with such lame comments like
“Why worry about trojans, spyware, and viruses when Vista has it all built in.”
wouldn’t have the brain capacity to be able to run Linux. Unless you can come up with something more constructive don’t bother.