Cyber Forensics Protect the Innocent

It is always rewarding when cyber security and cyber forensics protect the innocent.  Monique Vivien Macias of KPNX 12 News Phoenix discusses with Lazarus Alliance and Continuum GRC’s CEO Michael Peters how cyber forensics has become such a vital resource in law enforcement’s toolkit.

Christopher Thomas McKenna, the former Chaparral High School teacher and girls’ track coach facing charges for having an on-going sexual affair with a student from another school is facing more charges for allegedly continuing to contact and see the teen.

According to court documents, after his arrest last December, a judge ordered McKenna to wear an ankle bracelet to track his movements as part of his release.

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It’s one piece of a cyber puzzle Scottsdale police reportedly used to obtain evidence McKenna and the now 17-year-old girl were meeting up, continuing to talk over the phone and also, possibly, contacting each other through social media.

“It’s just an extremely valuable tool,” said Michael Peters, a cyber security expert and CEO of Lazarus Alliance Inc. and Continuum GRC software.

Peters has previously used his training in computer forensics to help various law enforcement agencies including the FBI.

“For both solving crimes and preventing crimes,” Peters said, “there are numerous applications that are constantly locating individuals.”

Court papers show location data collected by online apps on the teen’s cellphone show she and McKenna were in the same spot, at the same time on several different occasions and that the teen had been near his house on multiple instances.

“Whatever kind of application you’re using, you start leaving bread crumbs,” Peters said. It can happen multiple ways but mostly, “through networks, through cell towers, Wi-Fi access points,” he continued.

Documents also allege McKenna bought the teen a new TracPhone, also known as a burner phone, to continue hiding their relationship.

However, the report says police used cyber forensics to trace the phone and were able to create a timeline of where and when the phone was purchased and also when McKenna allegedly met the teen and gave it to her.

It went on to say investigators linked McKenna’s debit card to the phone’s purchase.

McKenna is now facing charges for failing to comply with a court order, in addition to a list of other charges which including the sexual exploitation of a minor and luring a minor for sex.

Jail records say he has been released from jail.

Source: 12 News KPNX-TV

The impacts of Reactive -vs- Proactive cyber security is very real!

Reactive -vs- Proactive; is there really a benefit to business? After correlating years worth of industry data the business and consumer impacts are quite clear but illustrating this information is difficult. We have created this infographic to help you make the business case for being proactive about security. After all … Lazarus Alliance is Proactive Cyber Security®!

What should be painfully obvious is that by taking proactive steps you avoid about 96% of all breach potential. While there is no such thing as a perfect solution you will be significantly less susceptible to cyber crime and not as likely to be in a reactive response.

While holistic governance in security, privacy, risk and cyber-law is increasingly complex and you are charged with delivering GRC guidance to your organization that they understand. The security industry has been conditioned to accept the “inevitable breach” and engage a reactive incident response plan. We have changed that paradigm in part with ITAM. The IT Audit Machine gives you everything you need to succeed. The Americas, Europe, Asia, MENA or wherever strong IT security policies and holistic GRC is needed and we deliver the foundation your company needs.

Why should only big business be able to afford world class technology security executive representation? You retain attorneys and accountants to perform complex tasks and represent you; retain technology security executive services and subject matter experts just the same!

Lazarus Alliance brings internationally recognized expert technology security executives to work for you. Your Personal CXO ® is the global hot-spot for retaining the services of the best and brightest subject matter experts in Cyberspace Law, IT Security and operations, IT Risk and Governance, Compliance, Policy and more!

Our clients range range from start-ups on up to multinational corporations from all business sectors from all around the world. We can help your organization too! If your company depends on technology for the success of your business; and what company does not in our technically connected global business community? You need qualified proactive cyber security assistance to implement effective controls and countermeasures.

Lazarus Alliance Cybervisors® are here to help!

The alternative may be that your company is on the next industry breach report and you are stepping down from your position because you could have done more to protect your company.

Secure in 60 Seconds

While you slip into that Thanksgiving Day coma, take 6o seconds to beat holiday crime and stay secure. Nearly half of holiday shopping this year will be done through online merchants; about 46 percent according to the National Retail Federation. That is up slightly from last year and is another sign that U.S. consumers remain very comfortable with shopping online.

As we enter peak-season for retailers, no doubt, your email inbox is already filled with holiday themed messages, as multitudes of retailers work to win your heart and your pocketbook on the big, post-Thanksgiving Day shopping day.

As you formulate your holiday spending strategy, here are a few simple shopping tips that may help you protect yourself from criminals both online and outside:

• Beware of phishing schemes. Just because an email appears to be legitimate doesn’t mean it is. Phishing is when criminals target large numbers of people through email, attempting to obtain private and personal data and even cash. Such emails may look somewhat legitimate, but even without close scrutiny there are often obvious clues they’re not. For example, misspelled words and poor grammar are good indicators an email was sent by a scammer. If you receive one, just delete it. Do not open any of the accompanying attachments or clicking on included links which are common vectors for criminals to take control of your computer and ruin your holidays.
• Stick to retailers you know and trust. You may be tempted by the low prices offered by a company you’ve never heard of, but will they help you out if the item you order isn’t what was described on their website or never arrives? And if the business turns out to be untrustworthy, remember you’ve also given them your payment card number and other personal information. Make sure your credit card company offers buyer fraud protection which costs you nothing and might just save the day!
• Use a credit card, rather than a debit card. When you choose your debit card over your credit card, you are exposing yourself to more risk. A criminal can clean out your checking account in one fell swoop with your debit card. To add insult to injury, may people also have over draft protections associated with a debit card linked to draw directly from their savings account. A criminal could completely clean you out within minutes!
• When shopping online, ensure the site is secure. Look for sites with URLs that begin with HTTPS, rather than HTTP. This technical designation of HTTPS creates an encrypted private connection between your browser and the website you’re visiting, so that the information exchanged cannot be viewed or modified by an outsider.
• In the physical world, make sure packages arrive when someone’s home to receive them. Thieves have resorted to following delivery trucksand taking items left on front porches when no one’s home. Consider having your items delivered to your work address or to a friend who’ll be at home when the doorbell rings. Also installing security cameras help identify criminals if professionally installed.
• When in doubt, ask someone knowledgeable about cyber security. Most security professionals are happy to lend some advice free of charge.

These simple steps cost you nothing and do not require the services of the multitude of so-called identity theft companies out there. You can do more to secure and protect yourself faster and cheaper than anyone and all it takes is a little common sense.

Now … from everyone here at Lazarus Alliance, enjoy the holidays!

Lazarus Alliance is Proactive Cyber Security®