Next time you open your laptop or push the ‘on’ button on your computer, consider how far technology has advanced. Nowadays, when I push the start button on my truck, I pay little attention to what occurred to get my vehicle to this point, it just starts. I haven’t thought about the car’s ‘operating system’ in years. I have disassembled an engine in my time, but no one I know has physically adjusted a car’s engine timing with an actual timing light in an eternity. Onboard computers do it now. Algorithms monitor engine speed, fuel usage, and electrical activity, then make accurate calculations to refine the quality of the engine operation. Our automotive shops are full of technicians that are skilled investigators working to locate faults referred to as trouble codes that assist in pinpointing any running problems. The other day I threw my briefcase in the passenger seat of my truck and pushed the start button. Nothing happened. It didn’t come to a roaring start, but in that instant, I was reminded of an automotive tale I had enjoyed hearing. It was a statement by Henry Ford when he was starting out building the Model A car and perfecting the assembly line. Customers would ask about the available colors and his answer was simply. “You can have any color you want as long as it’s black”. Today you can create any color palette under the rainbow, but at the time of early automobile design, development and function were more important than color. That moment sitting in a quiet truck prompted me to want to ask this question of the reader. When was the first time you looked at your computer and saw it in a different way?
We often take for granted that things just work without considering how we got to where we are now. It’s easy to complain. I can find a myriad of issues with any computer programming, but I also acknowledge the benefits of cyber innovation and the need to support new ideas, growth, and participation in the field. Digital Forensics and Incident Response focus on confirming malicious threats, identifying threat actors, and shedding the light on vulnerabilities. In this field of cyber investigation, I’ve come across the ‘smoking gun’ with fingerprints on it. You may not always know the name of the threat actor but it’s rewarding to discover the ‘fingerprint’ that identifies a threat or breach. At that moment, you better have your happy dance perfected!
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The earlier threats are discovered, the faster operations can be corrected and resumed. We’re moving into a digital age with greater artificial intelligence. Machine learning is assisting in monitoring, identifying, classifying, and evaluating risks and threats. This doesn’t mean we’re removing the human connection. If fact, more roles are being generated, but we need new team members who are willing to tackle the roles. Our computer world has solved a lot of the historic problems with computer and programming design, but new ideas prompt new risks including threat actors who expose vulnerabilities. I am not suggesting that everyone fits into the skillset of digital forensics. Perhaps the term forensics leaves individuals feeling that it’s full of math problems and algebra and blood and brain matter. My experience has taught me that an inquisitive mind for any type of puzzle is a good start. Like a good mechanic we’re often trying to locate the ‘trouble codes’ that may have been maliciously placed, and working with clients or in teams to close areas of risk so the assembly line can continue to function effectively.
So, the next time you go to press the start button on your computer, consider that it is constantly evolving, and likely updating when you’re asleep. Regarding automotives, I can personally attest to when it comes to pushing the start button on your car, consider how much history there was in its evolution. When it didn’t start, I was looking for someone to blame and presuming I was in a catastrophic full shut-down crash situation. Embarrassingly ……. I remembered my key FOB was in my other jacket. Delve into the experience. Keep thinking DFIRently.
