Monday, March 12, 2007

Kessler International, the leading forensic accounting, computer forensics and corporate investigations firm, today announced the launch of its powerful new educational Forums on the www.thekesslernotebook.com website.  This valuable new research and information tool allows interested parties to submit inquiries to our experts via our “Ask the Forensic Accounting Expert”, “Ask the Computer Forensics Expert”, “Ask the Brand Protection Specialist”, “Investigative Software, Tools & Equipment”, and “White Collar Crime” sections.

Posted by Blog Admin in • Forensic Accounting • Brand Protection • Corporate Investigations • Computer Forensics
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Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Face it:  You remember typewriters; your bright, quick, able and younger staff doesn’t.  The big screen you grew up in front of was a TV; they dawdled over breakfast in front of a 21” computer monitor. The fact is they are light years ahead of you when it comes to using high technology.  And some may even be using it to defraud your company.  The sad fact is many victims of insider techno-crime do not even realize that information theft has taken place….until it is too late.

Read the full article: http://www.investigation.com/press/press56.htm

Posted by Blog Admin in • Computer Forensics
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Friday, February 09, 2007

Chinese Professor “Bests” Fifth Data Encryption Algorithm

Now that we have your attention, let’s hear that again, in English this time!  A 41-year old Chinese college professor at the University of Beijing has cracked the world’s toughest computer encryption program, the SHA-1 (Secure Hash Algorithm).  For those of you who slept in the back of class, the SHA-1 is the U.S. Government’s most advanced data encryption program.  This action has apparently tasked the Government’s highest level programmers with replacing this now faulty program within the next five years. 

Whoa!  Cracking the code, however, doesn’t mean that it is open season for the “bad guys”.  The odds were truly stacked against Professor Wang Xiaoyun in the first place- about equivalent to wining Powerball several times!  A Beijing Digest has indicated that this SHA-1 encryption incorporates the world’s highest security Message-Digest algorithm 5 (MD5). Before Professor Wang cracked it, the MD5 could only be deciphered by the fastest exhisting supercomputer processing in excess of a million years.

So how did the Professor do it?  Although encryption analysis usually cannot be done without the use of computers, according to Wang, the computer only assisted in cracking the algorithm. Most of the time, Wang Xiaoyun calculated manually, and manually designed the methods.

Postscript:  Few corporations, if any, would have to be concerned about a mind of Wang Xiaoyun’s caliber hacking into their databases.  Alas, most computer fraud is perpetrated by employees of average intellect.  Kessler International is the leader in abating and preventing Cyber crime.  Learn how to safeguard your business from the commonplace hazard of Cyber crime, at: http://www.investigation.com/computer_forensics.htm

Posted by Blog Admin in • Computer Forensics
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Friday, January 26, 2007

Stay Out of Jail!

Even if you do not visit “adult entertainment” sites, your computer could harbor pornographic images and other offensive and even illegal imagery. Yes, You!  There is a landmark court case under appeal where a teenager has been convicted of possessing child pornographic images.  The teen maintains his innocence.  His parents contacted a computer forensics specialist who has retrieved court-admissible evidence that the teen did not knowingly download the images, but that these photos had been transmitted via unsolicited emails purportedly about other topics.

It is easy to jump to the conclusion that the teen may have been curious and intentionally visited websites that included pornographic images of minors.  After all, the majority of computer forensic cases involving pornography bear this out.  In this instance, however, specialized software proved the teen’s contentions and laid the blame elsewhere.

What is so compelling about this case is that is could likely happen to anyone without their knowledge or consent.  Through email and other portals, the information superhighway not only stops at your door, it often leaves undesirable baggage behind.  Business and personal reputations built by years of hard work have been damaged as a result.

What can you do to safeguard your integrity and to check if your computer’s security has been breached?  Call Kessler.  Period.  Kessler International is known worldwide for the firm’s computer forensic capabilities.  Using proprietary and other software coupled with thorough and precise investigation processes, Kessler’s computer forensic investigations yield the both the evidence and the facts.

And, with careful monitoring procedures, Kessler can prevent the recurrence of unwanted data on personal computers.  Remember, when you only have time for the best, Kessler sets the standard for investigative excellence.

See also:  Practice capabilities-
http://www.investigation.com/computer_forensics.htm
http://www.investigation.com/cyber_evidence.htm
http://www.investigation.com/internet_monitoring.htm
http://www.investigation.com/tracing_hostile_contact.htm
http://www.investigation.com/cell_phone_forensics.htm

Posted by Blog Admin in • Computer Forensics
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Thursday, January 25, 2007

Computer Forensics Among Hottest Job Fields for 2007

According to the New York Post column, “HIRE LEARNING”, Computer Forensics remains one of the top 10 career options for 2007 and the coming decade.  Why?  The reasons are numerous, but here are two key factors:  In 2002, watershed legislation introduced the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, a major change in securities law that mandates publicly-traded companies be “transparent in their accounting practices”.  So going, going, gone are the days of “the cover up”- when businesses suspected employee fraud and took steps to bury, rather than to investigate “white collar” criminal activity.

Another factor in the growing need for Computer Forensics professionals is identity theft.  Statistically one in three of us has or soon will be victimized.  This crime is insidious as personal information can be obtained in so many ways, from stolen mail, to hacked retail databases. Brazen identity thieves have even stolen credit card numbers by standing on line behind a victim making a POS transaction at a store register and taking cell-phone camera photos.

While the Computer Forensics field is now being popularized, as with anything else, inexperience masquerades as “best in show”.  Who do you turn to investigate Computer Fraud?  It’s simple: Call Kessler. Period. With over 30 years in the business, Kessler International has the expertise, experience and integrity to uncover the facts and prevent future occurrences.  With propriety software, a staff certified and quantified in their respective disciplines, meticulous methodology and dedication to providing service excellence, Kessler is the company to call when you only have time for the best. 

See also:  http://www.investigation.com/computer_forensics.htm,
and http://www.investigation.com/cell_phone_forensics.htm.

Posted by Blog Admin in • Computer Forensics
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Friday, January 05, 2007

Cyber Attacks:  What They Are & What You Can Do About Them…

Cyber crime takes many forms.  One of the most insidious is the “cyber attack”, usually targeting an individual or corporation.  How targeted attacks (sadly, there are other variations on this theme) happen and what can be done to prevent or curtail them will be discussed in a series of postings here at The Kessler Notebook.

You might be wondering, “If the attack is virtual, where’s the harm?” A future blog topic may well be, “There Are No Victimless Cyber crimes”.  Cyber attackers may steal proprietary corporate or personal information.  Personal privacy is invaded as well, but the harm comes from what is done with the stolen information.  Cyber attackers commit acts of industrial espionage to defamation of character to identity theft. On the corporate scale, hundreds of millions of productivity hours are lost annually. And, when the security surrounding proprietary information that the attackers may or may not want or be able to use is breached, the cost to re-secure this data cannot be calculated.

How can you protect yourself and your business?  Kessler International, with a global reputation for successfully combating thousands of investigative cases involving corporate and cyber fraud, is the company you can trust investigate these potential destructive issues and to make recommendations to avoid recurrence.  Read more about it at http://www.investigation.com/press/press55.htm

Posted by Blog Admin in • Computer Forensics
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Thursday, December 28, 2006

When Every Byte of Data Matters

A wealth of personal information is stored, intentionally and sometimes not, on our cell phones. Data that has been forensically-retrieved from mobile phones is court-admissible, making the integrity of cell phone forensic techniques of great importance.  Cell phone forensics, therefore, is the science of retrieving data from a mobile phone, PDA or other hand-held device under forensically acceptable conditions. Whether working to document evidence of “white collar crime” or tasked by law enforcement to extract data for a criminal trial, the integrity of the firm selected is as important as the integrity of the data recovered.  For over 18 years, Kessler International has been a leader in the fields of forensic accounting and computer forensics. The Company applies its experience, expertise and professionalism to its newest forensic discipline- extracting data from hand-held electronics.


See Also: http://www.investigation.com/cell_phone_forensics.htm

Posted by Blog Admin in • Computer Forensics
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Thursday, December 07, 2006

Genuine Forensic Accounting/Computer Forensic Investigators

Popularized by their inclusion in TV crime shows such as “Law and Order” and “CSI”, the forensic accounting and computer forensic fields are becoming cluttered with newbie “litigation specialists” with no background, experience or formal training in these disciplines.  You wouldn’t hire a plumber who wasn’t familiar with the business end of a pipe wrench, would you?  So how do you safeguard yourself and your business from hiring a “specialist” who isn’t?

Kessler International, Inc. is the only name you have to know.  With over thirty-five years’ experience in forensic accounting (that’s more than many firms’ total staff experience combined!), President and CEO, Michael G. Kessler’s expertise is widely acknowledged.  He consults Fortune 500 as well as international companies- and is often retained to train corporate staff in the fine points of his craft.  For a comprehensive list of Kessler International, Inc. services, see:  Practice Capabilities, http://www.investigation.com/pracap.asp. 

Posted by Blog Admin in • Forensic Accounting • Computer Forensics
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