Mobile lab gives cyber crime unit an edge

BANGALORE: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Criminal Investigation Department is all set to roll out its mobile cyber crime forensic laboratory to enable spot analysis.
The unit, awaiting some finishing touches, could start functioning within the next 10 days. CID DGP D V Guruprasad said this unit would make a preliminary analysis of the crime scene.Though the Delhi cyber crime unit had proposed setting up such a unit, Karnataka will be the first to get it on the road.
As per the amended IT Act, victims of cyber crime can lodge a complaint in the nearest police station. However, it's the CID cyber crime police station which has technical expertise. "We're training all officers above inspector level. However, only preliminary training has been completed and they need more training to handle cyber crime evidence. The mobile unit comes in handy in such cases to complete preliminary analysis,'' said CID DIG Malini Krishnamurthy.
Cyber Crime SP Manish Karvekar said when a cyber crime is reported, the local police face problems of transportation, power and logistics. 'A lot of time goes in bringing evidence for analysis to the CID. Now, the van can travel to any part of the state and technical experts can start the inquiry," he said.
The mobile unit
It's fitted with several gadgets needed for data forensic analysis. It has a disk imager and forensic tool kits, along with laptops, write blockers and imaging equipment. The unit has three types of power back-up -- UPS, generator and tubular battery (vehicle battery). The additional back-up comes in the form of laptops.
"Experts can make mirror images of the evidence, can analyze multiple hard disks or even a server. We can also analyze the data on mobiles or SIM cards. If the investigating officer has any question, we can give all the details, including IP address of the computer used in a crime, etc.,'' said cyber crime inspector Sharath T.