• Si And Desi's Holiday Special 2025
    Dec 22 2025
    Si and Desi close out the year on the Forensic Focus Podcast with a wide-ranging end-of-2025 wrap-up, reflecting on how the year unfolded for the show and the DFIR community. They discuss the mental health series, guest appearances, and how everyday technologies — from streaming services to wearables — are increasingly intersecting with forensic investigations, even when people don't realise it. The conversation then broadens to bigger technology shifts, including the rapid rise of AI and its legal, ethical, and societal implications. Si and Desi explore bias, misinformation, validation, and why human oversight still matters, before turning to the resurgence of operating system "wars," Apple's growing market share, Linux's expanding presence, and what changing user behaviour could mean for digital forensics in the years ahead. #DigitalForensics #DFIR #ForensicFocusPodcast #AI #Wearables #Linux #Apple 👉 Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to the Forensic Focus Podcast 00:33 Reflecting on the Year 2025 01:32 Challenges and Changes in 2025 02:09 Mental Health Series and Guest Appearances 04:51 Streaming Services and TV Licenses 09:27 Wearable Technology and Forensics 18:11 AI in Legal and Ethical Contexts 44:20 AI's Inevitable Rise 44:37 The Resurgence of Operating System Wars 45:19 Apple's Growing Market Share 46:31 Linux's Increasing Presence 53:14 Challenges for Linux Adoption 01:02:31 The Shift to Mobile and Tablet Usage 01:14:49 AI-Generated Content and Its Implications 01:21:50 Reflections on Free Speech and AI 01:27:57 Looking Ahead to the Future 🎧 Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/si-and-desis-holiday-special-2025/ 📝 Show Notes Forensic Focus Podcasts - https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast Forensic Focus Jobs Board - https://www.forensicfocus.com/jobs 'The old-school landline is having a cultural moment', ABC - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-16/landline-rotary-phone-social-media-ban-family-connect/106010638 'Judges have become 'human filters' as AI in Australian courts reaches 'unsustainable phase', chief justice says', The Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov/21/judges-have-become-human-filters-as-ai-in-australian-courts-reaches-unsustainable-phase-chief-justice-says 'Founder Admits His "AI Transcription" Startup Was Just Him Joining People's Meetings and Taking Notes by Hand', Futurism - https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/fireflies-founder-startup-ai 'Man Alarmed to Discover His Smart Vacuum Was Broadcasting a Secret Map of His House', Futurism - https://futurism.com/robots-and-machines/robot-vacuum-broadcasting 👉 Follow Forensic Focus RSS | https://www.forensicfocus.com/feed YouTube | https://youtube.com/@ForensicFocus Podcast | https://forensicfocus.com/podcast LinkedIn Page | https://linkedin.com/company/forensicfocus LinkedIn Group | https://linkedin.com/groups/693917 X (Twitter) | https://x.com/ForensicFocus Facebook | https://facebook.com/forensicfocus Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/forensicfocus.bsky.social Instagram | https://instagram.com/forensicfocus TikTok | https://tiktok.com/@forensicfocus Mastodon | https://dfir.social/@forensicfocus
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    1 hr and 33 mins
  • Oxygen Forensics On Smarter, Faster Remote DFIR Collections
    Dec 18 2025

    Keith Lockhart from Oxygen Forensics joins Si and Desi on the Forensic Focus Podcast to examine how remote digital evidence collection is changing investigative workflows across DFIR, eDiscovery, and corporate investigations. Drawing on recent XiB mobile training and real-world deployments, Keith explains where remote and agent-based acquisition delivers practical benefits—and where traditional hands-on methods remain essential.

    The discussion covers targeted versus full acquisitions, consent and governance in corporate environments, and the operational realities of collecting data across networks, jurisdictions, and time zones. It also explores over-the-air mobile collection, workstation memory capture, drone forensics, and why parser development remains a constant challenge as apps and platforms evolve.

    #DigitalForensics #DFIR #MobileForensics #IncidentResponse #eDiscovery #RemoteCollection #DigitalEvidence #cybercrime

    👉 Visit Forensic Focus at https://www.forensicfocus.com

    ⏱️ Timestamps

    00:00 Welcoming Keith from Oxygen

    01:59 Discussing the XiB Course Experience

    05:19 Challenges and Successes in Mobile Phone Extraction

    10:22 Remote Collection and Its Evolution

    14:38 ROI and Practical Applications of Remote Collection

    30:32 Remote Collection in Corporate and Law Enforcement

    35:01 Parole Monitoring Challenges

    35:20 Case Study: Faulty Monitoring Software

    36:34 The Need for Reliable Monitoring Tools

    37:23 Cross-Border Data and Legal Concerns

    38:02 Chain of Custody in Law Enforcement

    39:26 Remote Acquisition and Targeted Data Collection

    41:33 Corporate Use Cases and Data Management

    51:04 Drone Acquisition and Challenges

    01:00:34 Concluding Thoughts and Future Developments

    🎥 Video/Transcript – https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/oxygen-forensics-on-smarter-faster-remote-dfir-collections/

    📝 Show Notes

    Oxygen Forensics – https://www.oxygenforensics.com/

    Review: Oxygen Forensics Training – Extraction in a Box (XiB) – https://www.forensicfocus.com/reviews/oxygen-forensics-training-extraction-in-a-box-xib/

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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • The Idaho Murders: From Behavioural Clues To AI's Role In Digital Forensics
    Dec 11 2025

    Heather and Jared Barnhart return to the Forensic Focus Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation covering Cellebrite's growing Case-to-Closure Summit, behind-the-scenes insights from building one of the industry's toughest CTFs, and their digital forensic work on one of the most high-profile US murder cases in recent years. They share why the C2C Summit focuses on practitioner-led talks rather than product pitches, what made the first event such a success, and what's planned for the next gathering — including expanded training and a keynote from Terry Crews.

    The discussion also dives into how they design complex CTFs, why intentionally frustrating questions teach critical thinking, and how their mobile forensics analysis helped reveal behavioural patterns, intent, and attempts to hide activity in the Idaho murders investigation. They finish by exploring the future of investigations and AI — from cautious, evidence-bounded implementations to the importance of validation and avoiding confirmation bias.

    Get 50% off Cellebrite C2C User Summit 2026 registration with promo code: 2026-c2c-ForensicFocus

    #DigitalForensics #DFIR #MobileForensics #Cellebrite #CTF #incidentresponse #ForensicFocus #AIForensics

    00:00 Introduction and Guest Introductions

    01:33 C2C Summit Overview

    03:35 C2C Summit Success and Highlights

    09:45 Challenges and Insights from CTF

    19:56 Introduction to the Idaho Murders Case

    25:10 The Slow Process of Justice

    25:53 Key Evidence: The Knife Sheath and the Car

    27:46 Digital Footprint and Intent

    28:58 Challenges in Mobile Forensics

    31:49 Behavioral Patterns and Digital Evidence

    42:30 AI in Forensics

    43:17 Future of Digital Investigations

    44:00 The Role of AI in Investigations

    50:52 Validation and Confirmation Bias

    54:24 Closing Remarks and Future Plans

    👉 Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com

    🎧 Episode Page & Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/the-idaho-murders-from-behavioural-clues-to-ais-role-in-digital-forensics/

    📝 Show Notes

    Cellebrite – https://www.cellebrite.com

    Cellebrite C2C User Summit 2026 – https://events.cellebritec2c.com/event/2026/overview

    CFReDS – https://cfreds.nist.gov/

    SANS DFIR Summit & Training 2026 – https://www.sans.org/cyber-security-training-events/digital-forensics-summit-2026

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    57 mins
  • Inside FTK Imager Pro: Vendor-Neutral Forensics, Smarter AI, And Exterro's Forensic Vision
    Nov 24 2025

    Justin Tolman from Exterro joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to talk about the future of FTK and the role FTK Imager still plays in everyday casework. He explains why the original free version remains available, and what prompted the introduction of Imager Pro with added capabilities like BitLocker decryption and iOS collections. Justin also reflects on his time in law enforcement and training, and why the investigative side of the work still holds a strong pull.

    Looking ahead, Justin shares where FTK development is headed — from large-scale processing and streamlined review workflows to Whisper-based audio transcription and careful, targeted use of AI for tasks like summarising long documents and cross-media searching. He also previews Exterro's upcoming Inform event — a 15-hour global broadcast featuring talks from practitioners around the world — and invites the community to get involved.

    #DigitalForensics #DFIR #FTK #Exterro #ForensicImaging #MobileForensics #IncidentResponse

    00:00 Welcome to the Forensic Focus Podcast

    00:31 Introducing Justin Tolman from Exterro

    01:46 Justin's Journey into Forensics

    03:10 Transition to Training and Exterro

    06:31 FTK Imager Pro: Features and Benefits

    14:36 Training and Community Resources

    16:29 Updates on FTK Suite and Scalability

    19:10 On-Prem vs. Cloud Solutions

    26:57 AI in Forensics: Benefits and Challenges

    37:45 Addressing AI Bias in Forensics

    38:53 Case Study: AI Misinterpretation in Seattle Shooting

    40:14 The Importance of Validation in AI Forensics

    41:18 Challenges in Identifying Legal vs. Illegal Content

    43:08 The Future of AI in Forensics

    44:18 Collaboration and Integration in Forensic Tools

    46:07 The Role of APIs and Open Standards

    47:18 Challenges with Proprietary Forensic Formats

    54:36 The Need for High Compression Formats

    56:32 Forensic Focus Podcast and Community Engagement

    01:00:56 Upcoming Forensic Events and Presentations

    01:06:23 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    👉 Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com 🎧

    Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/inside-ftk-imager-pro-vendor-neutral-forensics-smarter-ai-and-exterros-forensic-vision/

    📝 Show Notes

    Exterro – https://www.exterro.com

    FTK Imager PRO –https://www.exterro.com/digital-forensics-software/ftk-imager-pro

    Exterro Inform – https://www.exterro.com/resources/exterro-inform FTK Podcasts – https://www.exterro.com/resources/ftk-over-the-air-podcast

    OpenAI Whisper (speech-to-text) – https://github.com/openai/whisper

    Ollama (local LLM framework) – https://ollama.ai

    Project VIC – https://www.projectvic.org

    CAID (UK) – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-abuse-image-database

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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Inside F3: Building Community And Sharing Knowledge In Digital Forensics
    Oct 20 2025

    Gareth Davies, Chairman of F3 (First Forensic Forum), joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to explore how a grassroots, vendor-neutral community has helped shape digital forensics in the UK for three decades. He traces F3's origins in the 1990s, when affordable training and tool-agnostic knowledge-sharing were scarce, and explains why the forum still focuses on byte-level, lab-ready techniques over sales pitches.

    Looking ahead, Gareth previews F3's 2025 conference in Warwickshire (Nov 18–20), the not-for-profit pricing model, and upcoming trainings on UAVs, software-defined radio, implants/biomed devices, smartwatch and vehicle forensics, and video authentication/deepfakes. He also discusses international growth (including interest in an Australian chapter) and an open call for volunteers to help run events and keep training affordable.

    #DigitalForensics #DFIR #ForensicsTraining #IncidentResponse #VehicleForensics #CryberCrime #DigitalEvidence #DigitalInvestigtion #DigitalEvidence

    👉 Visit Forensic Focus at https://www.forensicfocus.com

    00:00 Introducing Gareth Davies

    01:09 What is F3?

    03:01 Gareth's Journey into Forensics

    05:35 PhD and Research Work

    06:54 Current Role and Responsibilities

    09:08 Interesting Cases and Projects

    12:27 Involvement with F3

    14:41 F3's Global Reach and Community

    20:03 Challenges and Future of F3

    22:39 Personal Experiences and Networking

    24:47 Becoming Chairman of F3

    30:50 Upcoming F3 Event Details

    35:28 Digital Forensics Teaching and Research

    37:30 Upcoming F3 Training

    42:38 Challenges in Digital Forensics

    45:28 The Importance of Community and Resources

    55:04 Personal Interests and Hobbies

    57:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    🎥 Video/Transcript – https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/inside-f3-building-community-and-sharing-knowledge-in-digital-forensics/

    📝 Show Notes F3 – First Forensic Forum website - https://f3.org.uk

    F3 – First Forensic Forum LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/f3.org.uk/

    Spyder Forensics - https://www.spyderforensics.com

    Bénédictine - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9n%C3%A9dictine

    APOLLO - https://github.com/mac4n6/APOLLO

    DFRWS - https://dfrws.org

    GCK File Signature Table - https://filesig.search.org

    NIST - https://www.nist.gov/itl/ssd/digital-forensics

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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Inside The Fight Against Child Exploitation – Leadership And Wellness Lessons From Debbie Garner
    Oct 1 2025

    Debbie Garner, retired Special Agent in Charge at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to share insights from her 30-year career. From undercover narcotics work in her early 20s to leading Georgia's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, Debbie brings a unique perspective on collaboration, child protection, and investigator wellness.

    She discusses the challenges of cyber tips backlogs, the importance of cross-border cooperation, and why well-being must be built into the culture of child exploitation investigations. Debbie explains how she introduced practical, budget-conscious wellness initiatives — from group discussions to peer support and mental health check-ins — and how these efforts helped transform trust, retention, and resilience within her unit.

    Debbie and Paul also explore the stigma investigators often face, how leadership decisions can make or break support for officers, and what agencies can do to better safeguard the people safeguarding children.

    #DigitalForensics #DFIR #WellBeing #LawEnforcement #childprotection

    👉 Visit Forensic Focus at https://www.forensicfocus.com

    00:00 Introduction and Guest Background

    00:49 Early Career in Law Enforcement

    02:11 Specialization in Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes

    03:27 Challenges and Changes in Law Enforcement

    06:03 The ICAC Task Force Program

    09:34 Cross-Border Investigations and Cooperation

    14:46 Wellness and Resiliency in Law Enforcement

    18:01 Building a Culture of Wellness

    28:16 Personal Stories and Agency Support

    39:57 Final Thoughts and Advice

    🎥 Video/Transcript - https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/inside-the-fight-against-child-exploitation-leadership-and-wellness-lessons-from-debbie-garner/

    📝 Show Notes

    Innocent Justice Foundation - https://innocentjustice.org

    Raven (ICAC Task Force Funding Advocacy) - https://raven.us

    Hexordia - https://www.hexordia.com

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    43 mins
  • Well-Being In Digital Forensics And Policing: Insights From Hannah Bailey
    Aug 13 2025

    Hannah Bailey, founder of Blue Light Wellbeing, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to share her powerful journey from frontline policing to becoming a psychotherapist, trauma therapist, and well-being coach. Drawing on 15 years in the police — including CID and major crime — Hannah brings unique cultural credibility to her work supporting digital forensics professionals, first responders, and other high-risk roles.

    She talks openly about living with PTSD and burnout, facing two breast cancer diagnoses, and how those experiences inspired her to focus on proactive mental health support. Hannah and Paul discuss why cultural awareness in therapy matters, how approaches like psychoeducation and regular supervision can help, and why therapy isn't just for people who are "broken."

    Hannah also explains BrainWorking Recursive Therapy (BWRT), a modern trauma therapy that transformed her own recovery, and shares practical advice for those in digital forensics and other trauma-facing roles on spotting early signs of stress and building long-term resilience.

    #DigitalForensics #DFIR #MentalHealth #WellBeing #PTSD

    00:00 Introduction

    02:44 Hannah Bailey's Background and Career

    04:08 The Onset of Mental Health Challenges

    06:01 Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Its Impact

    06:37 Returning to Policing and Further Challenges

    09:44 Lack of Support

    12:14 Proactive Mental Health Approaches

    17:18 Hannah's Work with DFIs and Other Forces

    20:22 The Importance of Early Intervention

    26:28 The Value of Therapy in Organizations

    27:35 The Importance of Culturally Aware Therapists

    29:29 Introduction to Brain Work Recursive Therapy (BWRT)

    33:52 Combining Trauma Therapy and Wellbeing Coaching

    34:32 The Therapeutic Process and Its Benefits

    36:21 Supervision and Support in Therapy

    36:57 Proactive Approaches in Digital Forensics

    39:11 Building Trust and Non-Judgmental Spaces

    43:30 Final Thoughts

    🎥 Video/Transcript - https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/well-being-in-digital-forensics-and-policing-insights-from-hannah-bailey/

    📝 Show Notes Blue Light Wellbeing - https://www.bluelightwellbeing.uk

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    48 mins
  • Digital Forensics And Stress: Understanding Your Body's Signals
    Jul 24 2025

    Dr Zoe Billings and Mark Pannone from Adapt & Evolve join Paul to discuss their unique approach to mental health and well-being in digital forensics. Dr Billings is a biologist and former senior investigator, while Mark is a former Assistant Chief Constable. Together they've developed a model that focuses on recognising the early biological signs of stress rather than waiting for mental health problems to develop.

    They discuss how stress shows up physically in the body, why many digital forensic investigators feel unheard in their organisations, and why standard well-being support often doesn't work in law enforcement. The conversation covers practical stress reduction techniques and how understanding what stress does to your body can help people spot problems early.

    Mark and Zoe have worked with various organisations including the FBI, using their combined decades of police and investigative experience to provide support that actually fits the culture of law enforcement and forensic work.

    #DigitalForensics #CyberInvestigation #DFIR #Wellbeing

    00:00 Introduction

    00:22 Spotlight on Mental Health in Digital Forensics

    00:59 Meet the Experts: Dr. Zoe Billings and Mark Pannone

    01:39 The Origins of Adapt & Evolve

    03:48 Biological Aspects of Stress

    04:57 Implementing Preventative Measures

    09:05 Leadership and Organizational Challenges

    20:01 Physical Ailments from Stress

    26:09 Cultural Awareness in Law Enforcement

    31:45 ISO Standards and Legal Obligations

    39:32 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    Show Notes

    Adapt & Evolve - https://www.adaptandevolve.co.uk/

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    42 mins