A New NIST Update Will Aid in Criminal Investigations
A New NIST Update Will Aid in Criminal Investigations
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) had a recent update available via a publicly downloadable database. This new update should make it easier for law enforcement agencies to sift through computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices seized in police raids.
An Update to the National Software Reference Library
The National Software Reference Library (NSRL) is an extensive database law enforcement uses from local to federal levels. It is in place to provide resources to law enforcement so they can accomplish their goals related to computers and other technology.
NIST recently released the first significant update to the library in nearly two decades. The number and type of records in the database increased significantly. This was done to reflect the wide variety of software files law enforcement encounters on different devices. Additionally, NIST changed the format of the records to make files more searchable.
How This Update Will Directly Help Law Enforcement
The growth of the NSRL will help forensics labs more than any other area of law enforcement. Forensics labs conduct file reviews, which can be very time-consuming. The new updates will save thousands of person-hours with roughly 11,000 forensics labs in the United States.
Forensic research on computers and phones can help find evidence for several crimes. However, it is particularly helpful in catching child predators. These criminals often keep incriminating images on their phones and computers. This update from NIST should make it easier to uncover.
Contact GSec with Any Questions
If you have any questions on how this update will impact your business, do not hesitate to contact us. We will be more than happy to help!
By: Alex O’Reilly
https://www.nist.gov/itl/ssd/software-quality-group/national-software-reference-library-nsrl