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Photo: Hadar Cohen

IDF 'hackers' tackle computer related offences

Surge in crimes revealed through use of cell phones, social networks leads IDF to launch special branch that will focus on computer related offences

A recent spurt in computer related criminal offenses in the IDF has led Military Police to establish a new department that will focus on these crimes. The computer offenses branch will operate within the framework of the fraud unit which began operations 18 months ago.

 

The target: Abuse of Palestinians and early identification of soldiers with suicidal intentions.


קורס עבירות מחשב. "סינון עד הפרטים הקטנים" (צילום: הדר כהן)

Computer offences investigators' class (Photo: Hadar Cohen)

 

The Computer Service Directorate has recently completed one of its first courses for computer offences investigators. Around 30% of the cadets come from a computers background that includes the ability to hack into networks and decipher computer systems.

 

The cadets are studying how to use information extracted from suspects' phones and computers as well as portable memory devices. "The search is conducted using a special program that filters through to the most minute details," the head of the fraud unit, Major Yaniv Horesh told Ynet.

 

"The program can reconstruct deleted call logs and even old messages. The advanced technology allows investigators to reproduce the suspect's geographic locations, if they present an unverified alibi.

 

According to Horesh: "We are always trying to be one step ahead technology-wise and carry out thousands of searches each year.

 

Exposing criminal activity through computers or smart phones broke records in the current year when investigators looking in to a drug case accidentally discovered a rape carried out by two soldiers before their enlistment; the horrific event was documented on their cellular phones.

 

Yet the course emphasizes another kind of computerized activity, the documenting of abuse carried out against Palestinian prisoners.

 

The Military Police explained that it is often difficult to locate the person responsible for taking incriminating pictures. And so the unit is cooperating with the Israeli representative of Facebook in addition to its own complex investigation measures in order to locate possible abusers.

 

 

 

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.26.11, 17:49
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