• "NIJ is supporting a 5-year effort to fund all areas of research and technology development to enhance the use of DNA in the criminal justice system" ( A Resource Guide to Law Enforcement, Corrections, and Forensic Technologies, National Institute of Justice, 2001).
   

• "Ninydrin was first introduced in 1910 by the English chemist, Siegfried Ruhemann, but became more well-known in 1954 when it was discovered that it could be used as a fingerprint developing reagent." ( New Reagents for Development of Latent Fingerprints, National Institute of Justic e, 1995).

Source: http://www.ncjrs.gov/spotlight/forensic/facts.html

Securing Your Wireless Network

Increasingly, computer users interested in convenience and mobility are accessing the Internet wirelessly. Today, business travelers use wireless laptops to stay in touch with the home office; vacationers beam snapshots to friends while still on holiday; and shoppers place orders from the comfort of their couches. A wireless network can connect computers in different parts of your home or business without a tangle of cords and enable you to work on a laptop anywhere within the network's range.

Going wireless generally requires a broadband Internet connection into your home, called an "access point," like a cable or DSL line that runs into a modem. To set up the wireless network, you connect the access point to a wireless router that broadcasts a signal through the air, sometimes as far as several hundred feet. Any computer within range that's equipped with a wireless client card can pull the signal from the air and gain access to the Internet.

The downside of a wireless network is that, unless you take certain precautions, anyone with a wireless-ready computer can use your network. That means your neighbors, or even hackers lurking nearby, could "piggyback" on your network, or even access the information on your computer. And if an unauthorized person uses your network to commit a crime or send spam, the activity can be traced back to your account.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect your wireless network and the computers on it. As no one step is a complete fix, taking all of the following steps will help you be more secure.

Precautionary Steps

1.      Use encryption. The most effective way to secure your wireless network from intruders is to encrypt, or scramble, communications over the network. Most wireless routers, access points, and base stations have a built-in encryption mechanism. If your wireless router doesn't have an encryption feature, consider getting one that does.

Manufacturers often deliver wireless routers with the encryption feature turned off. You must turn it on. The directions that come with your wireless router should explain how to do that. If they don't, check the router manufacturer's website.

Two main types of encryption are available: Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP). Your computer, router, and other equipment must use the same encryption. WPA is stronger; use it if you have a choice. It should protect you against most hackers.

Some older routers use only WEP encryption, which is better than no encryption. It should protect your wireless network against accidental intrusions by neighbors or attacks by less-sophisticated hackers. If you use WEP encryption, set it to the highest security level available. Learn how...

2.      Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and a firewall. Computers on a wireless network need the same protections as any computer connected to the Internet. Install anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and keep them up-to-date. If your firewall was shipped in the "off" mode, turn it on. Learn how...

3.      Turn off identifier broadcasting. Most wireless routers have a mechanism called identifier broadcasting. It sends out a signal to any device in the vicinity announcing its presence. You don't need to broadcast this information if the person using the network already knows it is there. Hackers can use identifier broadcasting to home in on vulnerable wireless networks. Note the SSID name so you can connect manually. Disable the identifier broadcasting mechanism if your wireless router allows it. Learn how...

4.      Change the identifier on your router from the default. The identifier for your router is likely to be a standard, default ID assigned by the manufacturer to all hardware of that model. Even if your router is not broadcasting its identifier to the world, hackers know the default IDs and can use them to try to access your network. Change your identifier to something only you know, and remember to configure the same unique ID into your wireless router and your computer so they can communicate. Use a password that's at least 10 characters long: The longer your password, the harder it is for hackers to break. Learn how...

5.      Change your router's pre-set password for administration. The manufacturer of your wireless router probably assigned it a standard default password that allows you to set up and operate the router. Hackers know these default passwords, so change it to something only you know. The longer the password, the tougher it is to crack. Learn how...

6.      Allow only specific computers to access your wireless network. Every computer that is able to communicate with a network is assigned its own unique Media Access Control (MAC) address. Wireless routers usually have a mechanism to allow only devices with particular MAC addresses access to the network. Some hackers have mimicked MAC addresses, so don't rely on this step alone. Learn how...

7.      Turn off your wireless network when you know you won't use it. Hackers cannot access a wireless router when it is shut down. If you turn the router off when you're not using it, you limit the amount of time that it is susceptible to a hack.

8.      Don't assume that public "hot spots" are secure. Many cafés, hotels, airports, and other public establishments offer wireless networks for their customers' use. These "hot spots" are convenient, but they may not be secure. Ask the proprietor what security measures are in place.

9.      Be careful about the information you access or send from a public wireless network. To be on the safe side, you may want to assume that other people can access any information you see or send over a public wireless network. Unless you can verify that a hot spot has effective security measures in place, it may be best to avoid sending or receiving sensitive information over that network.

Investigative Uses of Technology: Devices, Tools,
and Techniques
By National Institute of Justice
October 2007

This NIJ special report discusses techniques and resources for investigating technology-related crime. It explains technology-related tools and devices that an investigator may encounter or that may assist an investigation, and legal issues affecting the use of high technology. Devices not only can aid an investigation; they can facilitate crime. For example, criminals can use cell phones to trigger explosives and credit cards and other customer cards to engage in fraud, theft, and identity theft. For each device described, the report provides an overview of their functions and usefulness to investigators. Devices can be multifunctional (e.g., cell phones can perform camera functions). As more functions converge into a single device, investigators need to be aware that relevant information can be stored in seemingly mundane or commonplace objects or devices.

Full text:

• Adobe Acrobat File

Investigations Involving the Internet and Computer Networks
By National Institute of Justice
January 2007

This NIJ Special Report is intended as a resource for individuals responsible for investigations involving the use of the Internet and other computer networks. Any crime could involve devices that communicate through the Internet or through a network. Criminals may use the Internet for numerous reasons, including trading/sharing information (e.g., documents, photographs), concealing their identity, and gathering information on victims. The report is among a series of guides on investigating electronic crime.

Full text of the Report:

• Adobe Acrobat File

Digital Evidence in the Courtroom: A Guide for Law Enforcement and Prosecutors
By National Institute of Justice
January 2007

Now essential to modern life, computers have also become increasingly important to criminals, who steal information, commit fraud, and stalk victims online. Even if a crime was not committed online, law enforcement may discover critical evidence from an offenders' digital media. For this evidence to be admissible, however, police must demonstrate proper collection and handling. In the courtroom, prosecutors must overcome the twin barriers of skepticism and lack of technical understanding. To help navigate this complex process, NIJ's technical working group of national experts prepared this special report. Chapters 1 and 2 inform crime scene investigators and other handlers about legal requirements for the handling of digital evidence. Chapters 3 and 4 provide guidelines for successful prosecution. The last chapter is a working application—using digital evidence to convict in a child pornography case. Appendixes provide useful resources and forms.

Full text of the Report:

• Adobe Acrobat File