MTEB - International Mobile Forensics Conference 2011

MTEB - International Mobile Forensics Conference 2011

2011 International Conference presentations and workshops:

- Session 1 The Impact of Mobile Cybercrime

- Session 2 iPhone, Android, Microkia, Blackberry et al

- Session 3 New crimes require new mobile examination methods

- Session 4 Forensic Mobile SSD FTL & Chip Off

- Session 5 Imaging and Data Carving

- Session 6 Indepth with SIM & USIM Examination

- Session 7 Achieving Laboratory Accreditation

- Session 8 Forensic Tools - Performance & Evaluation
- Session 9 Security and deleted data on mobile devices 
- Session 10 Hacks, Cracks and Whacks
- Session 11 Cell Site Analysis
- Session 12 Forensic Mobile Computing Laptops to Pads & Tablets 
- Session 13 Employment and Market Trends
- Session 14 GSM/WCDMA/GPS Jammers and examination methodology
- Session 15 Call Record Analysis
- Session 16 Student Presentation 
- Session 17 Mobile Phone Programming
- Session 18 Wireless technology comparisons
- Session 19 Handset Examination
- Session 20 Wireless technology comparisons
- Session 21 An expert's view of mobile phone evidence
- Session 22 Retained Data: Handover Interface for the request and delivery of retained data 
- Session 23 Standards Review
- Session 24 UK perspective - the future of Law Enforcement's involvement in mobile forensics
- Session 25 A Practitioner's view of moble phone examination

There will be a good selection of speakers and presentations. Remember this is a learning conference and due to timings - speakers -v- workshops - the streams occur in some instances at the same time. It would be within your interest to book at least two people to attend the conference. One to listen to the Conference Speakers and the other to attend training workshops. Session presentations or workshops maybe subject to change. 

Passcode locked iPhone may still make calls

Passcode locked iPhone may still make calls

We have known for awhile that many users can answer calls on their bluetooth earpiece even though they have the phone keypad lock set to ON. Moreover, handsets like Samsung GT-S5600 with keypad lock ON that have a synchronised bluetooth earpiece can call the last number received (LNR) or the number of the last received text message by simply pushing the key on the earpiece. Even if the user isn't using bluetooth earpiece, many handsets (eg Nokia 6303) with a locked keypad can still allow the user to answer a ringing phone.  

If you have a passcode lock on your iPhone it is possible, where the owner haven't yet changed the voice default security setting from when it was purchased, to still be able to make phone calls or worst still it can allow a thief (if your iPhone is stolen) to make calls with the handset. By switching the default setting to OFF can help prevent this occur. 

The image courtesy of The Register

The passcode lock vulnerability has been reaffirmed in a recent article published at the technology website, The Register: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03/04/iphone_voice_dialling/.

Cell Phone Use May Have Effect On Brain Activity

Cell Phone Use May Have Effect On Brain Activity, But Health Consequences Unknown

February 28, 2011

In a preliminary study, researchers found that 50-minute cell phone use was associated with increased brain glucose metabolism (a marker of brain activity) in the region closest to the phone antenna, but the finding is of unknown clinical significance, according to a study in the February 23 issue of JAMA.

"The dramatic worldwide increase in use of cellular telephones has prompted concerns regarding potential harmful effects of exposure to radiofrequency-modulated electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs). Of particular concern has been the potential carcinogenic effects from the RF-EMF emissions of cell phones. However, epidemiologic studies of the association between cell phone use and prevalence of brain tumors have been inconsistent (some, but not all, studies showed increased risk), and the issue remains unresolved," according to background information in the article. The authors add that studies performed in humans to investigate the effects of RF-EMF exposures from cell phones have yielded variable results, highlighting the need for studies to document whether RF-EMFs from cell phone use affects brain function in humans.


Nora D. Volkow, M.D., of the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md., and colleagues conducted a study to assess if cell phone exposure affected regional activity in the human brain. The randomized study, conducted between January 1 and December 31, 2009, included 47 participants. Cell phones were placed on the left and right ears and brain imaging was performed with positron emission tomography (PET) with (18F)fluorodeoxyglucose injection, used to measure brain glucose metabolism twice, once with the right cell phone activated (sound muted) for 50 minutes ("on" condition) and once with both cell phones deactivated ("off" condition). Analysis was conducted to verify the association of metabolism and estimated amplitude of radiofrequency-modulated electromagnetic waves emitted by the cell phone. The PET scans were compared to assess the effect of cell phone use on brain glucose metabolism.


The researchers found that whole-brain metabolism did not differ between the on and off conditions. However, there were significant regional effects. Metabolism in the brain region closest to the antenna (orbitofrontal cortex and temporal pole) was significantly higher (approximately 7 percent) for cell phone on than for cell phone off conditions. "The increases were significantly correlated with the estimated electromagnetic field amplitudes both for absolute metabolism and normalized metabolism," the authors write. "This indicates that the regions expected to have the greater absorption of RF-EMFs from the cell phone exposure were the ones that showed the larger increases in glucose metabolism."

"These results provide evidence that the human brain is sensitive to the effects of RF-EMFs from acute cell phone exposures," the researchers write. They add that the mechanisms by which RF-EMFs could affect brain glucose metabolism are unclear.

"Concern has been raised by the possibility that RF-EMFs emitted by cell phones may induce brain cancer. ... Results of this study provide evidence that acute cell phone exposure affects brain metabolic activity. However, these results provide no information as to their relevance regarding potential carcinogenic effects (or lack of such effects) from chronic cell phone use."

"Further studies are needed to assess if these effects could have potential long-term harmful consequences," the authors conclude. (JAMA 2011;305[8]:808-814. Available pre-embargo to the media at www.jamamedia.org)

Cell Phone Radiofrequency Radiation Exposure and Brain Glucose Metabolism
The results of this study add information about the possible effects of radiofrequency emissions from wireless phones on brain activity, write Henry Lai, Ph.D., of the University of Washington, Seattle, and Lennart Hardell, M.D., Ph.D., of University Hospital, Orebro, Sweden, in an accompanying editorial.

"Although the biological significance, if any, of increased glucose metabolism from acute cell phone exposure is unknown, the results warrant further investigation. An important question is whether glucose metabolism in the brain would be chronically increased from regular use of a wireless phone with higher radiofrequency energy than those used in the current study. Potential acute and chronic health effects need to be clarified. Much has to be done to further investigate and understand these effects."


The editorial authors also question whether the findings of Volkow et al may be a marker of other alterations in brain function from radiofrequency emissions, such as neurotransmitter and neurochemical activities? "If so, this might have effects on other organs, leading to unwanted physiological responses. Further studies on biomarkers of functional brain changes from exposure to radiofrequency radiation are definitely warranted."

SOURCE: American Medical Association 

Previous discussions about Mobile Phones and Health:
http://trewmte.blogspot.com/2009/09/cellphones-cause-brain-tumors.html