The recently debuted movie “Untraceable” pits FBI agent Jennifer Marsh (played by Diane Lane) against a serial killer who is using the Internet to post videos of victims and taunt law enforcement. The premise is frightening, but in reality anyone who taunts law enforcement using the Internet, and cell phones is likely to be caught quickly.

There are several techniques cunning criminals may try to mask cell phone usage including using disposable cell phones, or spoofing caller ID. Ultimately any evasion technique will not erase the technological footprints left at cell towers, switching offices, and the main telco office.

Criminal computer users have been lullabied into a false sense of security by software products guaranteed to “erase evidence” and “hide website history” as every point in between each host can and will log activity. Routers, firewalls, proxy servers, all can track criminal activity. Some computer users simply “think” the Internet is just too big for their activities to be monitored.

Hackers often use compromised systems, open wifi, or public access locations to launch attacks, SPAM, or illegal activity, sometimes hiding out 10 systems deep. Meanwhile, packets containing their unique hardware identifiers are giving them up at the source of origination. Hackers often try to erase their tracks - but, with so many potential points for obtaining evidence, it’s just not possible.

Spoofing, evading, sneaking, whatever the technique - there is a way to trace it. Sometimes it make take a variety of forensic evidence including computer forensics, and traditional methods like fingerprinting or reviewing security videos to catch the criminal. Law enforcement agencies across the world are catching dumbfounded criminals who think they covered their tracks or are too smart to get caught.

APA Citation:
Smith, Nathan. M. (2008). Avoiding Computer Forensics. “Untraceable”? Untrue..
Retrieved May 16, 2008, from http://www.computer-forensic-technician.com/wordpress/avoiding-computer-forensics-untraceable-untrue/.