Computer Security
Fundamentals
by Chuck Easttom
Chapter 13 Cyber Detective
Chapter 13 Objectives
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Find contact information on the web
Locate court records on the web
Locate criminal records on the web
Use Usenet newsgroups to gather
information
© 2012 Pearson, Inc.
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Introduction
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Preceding chapters have examined these
topics:
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Identity theft
Hacking
Investigating potential employees
© 2012 Pearson, Inc.
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Introduction (cont.)
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Identity theft
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Criminals use a small amount of information
to garner more.
Look at Internet techniques for finding
additional information.
Security personnel need to know how this is
done to defend against it.
© 2012 Pearson, Inc.
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Introduction (cont.)
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Hacking
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Obtain information to social engineer or to
guess passwords.
Investigating potential employees
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Calling references may not be enough.
Hiring a private detective may be
impractical.
© 2012 Pearson, Inc.
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Introduction (cont.)
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Network administrators in particular must be
investigated.
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The network cannot keep out the person who
set it up.
Information about his past from a source other
than supplied references may affect the hiring
decision.
© 2012 Pearson, Inc.
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Introduction (cont.)
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The Internet is a valuable investigative tool.
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Useful for finding out about potential
employees, babysitters, and so forth.
Much of the information is free.
States have court records online.
© 2012 Pearson, Inc.
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Introduction (cont.)
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Information is a two-edged sword.
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An innocent person may use it for legitimate
investigations.
A less scrupulous person may use it for identity
theft or stalking.
Invasion of privacy has ethical, moral, and
legal ramifications.
Practice searches on your own name unless
you have written consent.
© 2012 Pearson, Inc.
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General Searches
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Search to find addresses, phone numbers, or
e-mail addresses
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www.yahoo.com
www.infobel.com
www.smartpages.com
www.theultimates.com/white
www.bigfoot.com
www.whowhere.com
www.switchboard.com
© 2012 Pearson, Inc.
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Court Records and Criminal
Checks
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Sex offender registries
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www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/cac/registry.htm
You may not be able to base employment
decisions on certain information.
Check with an attorney first.
© 2012 Pearson, Inc.
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Court Records and Criminal
Checks (cont.)
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Civil court records
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Civil issues, as well as crimes, may make a
person unsuitable for a particular job.
No centralized Web site for these issues.
Many states and Federal courts offer online
records, for example:
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www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/casesearch.asp
© 2012 Pearson, Inc.
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Court Records and Criminal
Checks (cont.)
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Other resources
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The National Center for State Courts
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The Law School at Emory University
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www.ncsconline.org/
www.law.emory.edu/FEDCTS/
Public record finder
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www.freeprf.com/
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Court Records and Criminal
Checks (cont.)
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Other resources
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Pacer
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The Boost
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www.pacer.psc.uscourts.gov/
www.theboost.net/court_records/
State public access
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ctl.ncsc.dni.us/publicaccess/
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Court Records and Criminal
Checks (cont.)
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Other resources
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Prison searches
 www.ancestorhunt.com/prison_search.htm
Federal prison records
 www.bop.gov
Public records
 www.searchsystems.net/
United Kingdom public records
 www.pro.gov.uk
© 2012 Pearson, Inc.
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Usenet
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Newsgroups on many subjects.
Use Google “Groups” option.
Anyone can post anything .
Search for potential employees.
Can be an important investigative tool.
Information must be verified elsewhere.
© 2012 Pearson, Inc.
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Summary
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The Internet is a valuable investigative
resource
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To hackers and identity thieves
To employers of network administrators as
well as babysitters
Periodically check your own identity to see
what information is available.
© 2012 Pearson, Inc.
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