Expert Witness: Games Console Forensics

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In today’s average home there exist many potential sources of digital evidence, from the obvious home PCs and mobile phones to the less common ‘pen-drives’ and PDA’s. All have been subject to comprehensive scrutiny from people involved in the legal process and academics since their properties have been shown to have forensic value. So far comparatively little evidence of investigation into the forensic properties of modern gaming consoles exists, if we consider how they can be utilised in an increasingly ‘PC-like’ manner, this is an area capable of proffering considerable amounts of data with evidentiary value in criminal or civil court proceedings.

Computer forensics is a relatively new discipline combining elements of law and computer science to collect and analyse data from computer systems, networks, wireless communications and storage devices in a way that is admissible as evidence in a courtroom. Gaming consoles now provide the kind of data which can undergo forensic analysis because of the addition of memory (both internal and external) capable of ‘storing’ data beyond mere computer game information.

With the addition of storage capabilities beyond simple game data (i.e. hard drives capable of storing music, video, pictures etc.) gaming consoles are able to utilise ‘web’ functionality and therefore will likely generate both ‘persistent’ and ‘volatile data’ with forensic value. With an increasing amount of media functionality gaming consoles are becoming ‘entertainment hubs’ within the average household.

The machines most likely to provide usable forensic data are the Xbox360 and PS3 and due to their prevalence in homes (combined sales figures for the UK are around six million units) these are the machines where a pattern of use would be similar to more readily accepted sources of forensic data (i.e. home computers).

Microsoft Xbox 360:

This gaming console can support external memory cards for game data and media storage, however these are infrequently utilised because of small size (both physically and in terms of data capacity). The most commonly used memory for the Xbox360 comes in the form of a detachable hard-drive ranging in size from twenty gigabytes to two-hundred and fifty gigabytes (allowing vast amounts of saved music, videos, photos etc.) and is essential in allowing online functionality on the machine. On an unmodified machine this online functionality refers to ‘Xbox live’, the online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service operated by Microsoft. This service allows users to:

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3 Ways To Make Your Business Trip More Comfortable

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While most people tend to think that business travel is all fun and games, the novelty wears really quickly and extensive business travel can really take its toll. It can be tiring, boring and lonely. If you have a family back home it can actually be much more stressful. Not seeing them and the stress it can put on your marriage are all things that businesses never take into account. In the end you are the one suffering and unless you take some definite steps you can end up burnt out.

So, what can you do to make your business trips more bearable? Here are 3 tips that really work.

1. Business Class
Depending on your position, I’d suggest that you insist on traveling business class – especially if you have to fly long distances. It makes a huge difference and its much more than a bit more luxury. You will feel a lot more rested, have a lot less stress and be much better off when you do step of the plane.

2. Skype
Loneliness is one of the things that makes business trips really bad. You can only have that many meals and conversations with colleges before that becomes boring. Skype is a great invention and allows you to have full video chats with your loved ones back home. Its really cheap and easy to set up and even now with some flights having internet access it can be a great way to stay in touch.

3. Transport
There is nothing like arriving in a foreign city, picking up a rental car and getting lost. If its in a city like London or Paris it can be incredibly stressful – especially when you have to drive on the wrong side of the road. You can eliminate all this stress by booking yourself a corporate driver – even if its just for the first few days. It takes a lot of pain and headaches out of the equation.

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Transforming Corporate Culture Through IT

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Meet John. John is an IT Professional. John does not enjoy interacting with people. Meet Jane. Jane is a Chief Financial Officer. Jane does not enjoy interacting with technology. John and Jane both work at XYZ Corporation, an engineering firm that consists of 75 employees. Jane has several hours ahead of her entering data into an Excel spreadsheet which then needs to be manipulated and entered into the accounting system; however, she is unable to open any applications-including her e-mail. Jane calls John for assistance but he does not feel like answering so she leaves a message. John checks his voicemail and decides to e-mail Jane telling her to reboot and let him know if that corrects the issue, but then he leaves for the day. Let us not forget that Jane cannot open her e-mail application! Does this sound familiar?

Scenarios like the one above are not uncommon in the workplace today. Bridging the gap between IT and the rest of the organization starts with a change in IT corporate culture. Let us take a step back and look at what IT is. Information Technology is the development, implementation, and maintenance of computer hardware and software systems to organize and communicate information electronically. In many organizations the role of IT stops once the basic business technologies are implemented such as e-mail, file sharing, printing, and desktop systems. At this point, the focus of IT turns to maintenance of these systems and nothing more. While this approach is adequate for some organizations and appears to have become the norm, a clear disconnect exists between IT and the rest of the organization.

It is my belief that the role of IT should include all the things mentioned above in addition to many other critical functions that will ensure the success of the organization. I typically make it a priority to periodically sit with business users and ask them to show me how they do their job so that I can get a sense of the challenges they encounter. It is not until I understand how a job is being done, and for what purpose, that I can make recommendations for improvement. Once I know their challenges, I can suggest ways to improve or even solve them by utilizing software/hardware technologies. An important role of IT is to be aware of, and understand, the value of new technology solutions available in the marketplace. If a new technology solution can solve a significant business challenge then additional research and evaluation is justified. Making the jobs of business users more efficient through the use of technology is crucial to organizations not only for productivity purposes, but also for allowing more time spent on important tasks and career development. A thorough understanding of what an organization provides its clients (products or services) is essential in developing strategic IT goals for driving business development.

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Helpful Tips in Choosing an Effective Business Coach

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If you are looking for a way you can improve your marketing strategy, you will need to get all the help that you can. This is why there are many people who offer help in dealing with this campaign. If you do not possess the skills necessary for expanding your marketing potential, you will have a tough time finding success with your business.

This is where the help of a business coach comes into consideration. Since this individual can provide you the professional advice and help that you need for your marketing campaign, you will be able to make the most out of this experience. Normally, it takes many years for business leaders to be able to master such skills. Due to this extensive time period there are several coaches that now offer such help, so you will be able to get the training that you need in no time.

If you are looking for someone who will help you improve your marketing approach, here are some of the things they must possess:

Years of Success

You will be using the tips that they share, therefore you need to make sure that your coach has spent several years in the industry. They must be very successful in this field so that they can be a credible source of information. Otherwise, you will not be able to rely on the information they provide, as they do not have the experience to back up what is being taught.

Leadership

A business coach must be a good leader. This means that you should look for someone who takes initiative, leads and guides other people. In this scenario, they will be helping you reach your full potential through leadership skills. If they are able to do this, you can be sure that your marketing approach will not go to waste.

Honesty

Since the coach you have chosen is only a human being, it is normal that they might make some mistakes. For this, they must be able to admit mistakes and let you know of them. The whole experience must always be taken as a learning process. If you are able to do this, you can improve your marketing approach without any trouble. This is what will help you become a better businessman and leader.

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3 Reasons to Add a Business Blog to Your Website

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Adding a business blog to your website is an excellent strategy that can help your small business on several different levels. Let’s take a look at the benefits of maintaining a blog on your business website.

1. A blog can increase your business website’s Google pagerank.

Stagnant website content, Google assumes, becomes less and less relevant as the weeks go by, and your pagerank is likely to suffer. Rather than constantly updating your website, which can cause frustration for your customers if they have to constantly re-learn how to navigate your site, a blog allows you to provide a steady stream of content, keeping Google interested and your pagerank up.

2. A business blog is a great way to engage your customers on a new level.

Customers don’t want to constantly be sold to — sometimes, they just want to read something helpful and engaging that doesn’t ask them for money at the end of it. A business blog gives readers and customers a venue to discuss ideas with each other and comment on your business, and earning a reputation among your client base for providing good, relevant content — for free — can be a valuable commodity.

3. You get to target specific keywords without writing spammy website content.

It’s hard to strike a balance between good writing and SEO strategy — all too often, keywords seem awkwardly crammed into places they wouldn’t naturally be found, the resulting copy seems stilted, and grammar takes a backseat to keyword strategy. With frequent blog posts, you can write topical articles that include your desired keywords while still sounding like a human. Amazing!

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