The Electronic Communications and Transactions Act deals, in part, with digital evidence, and its integrity and originality. This is a challenge in terms of computer systems, as more and more systems are connected to the cloud, and social media, and as the quantity of data grows exponentially.
So says Danny Myburgh, CEO of Cyanre, a computer and digital forensic services supplier.
He will present at ITWeb Security Summit 2015, to be held at Vodacom World in Midrand, on 26 and 28 May.
"Integrity means ensuring that while seizing any digital evidence, it isn't modified, and originality refers to the ability to confirm the integrity of that data. This isn't as easy as it looks."
He adds there are jurisdictional issues to be taken into account. For example, a company may have a user in SA, and a hacker in the US. This complicates the issue. "Similarly with cloud computing. An organisation may own the data, but the cloud service provider owns the logs. Because of this, is it hard to know who has done what to the data."
Myburgh says because digital media can be modified fairly easily, it is important to closely document the chain of custody, from the scene of the crime, through analysis and finally into the courts of law. "Digital forensics is about this process, and relates to the identification, preservation, analysis and documentation of electronic data, in such a way that its authenticity and integrity is assured."
Myburgh says there has been a rise in several cyber scourges in SA, including "illegal access to information, data theft, phishing, bring your own device and social media".
He will detail the threats SA faces, as well as how to make digital evidence stick, during his presentation at the 10th annual security summit from ITWeb. To gain access to his talk, and presentations from over 30 other subject matter experts, click here to find out more and to register.
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