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Risk Assessments Online
Have you performed a Google search on your name lately? consider this common scenario, one day a business executive decides to Google her name only to discover her home address and the names of her children all listed online in plain sight along with online offers to purchase more information about her current whereabouts and social status. The discovery is alarming and in some cases, downright dangerous, especially if the person is an individual with a high net worth, or an executive suite employee, or has a security clearance, or is in law enforcement, or is a private detective, or simply concerned about his or her privacy. -
Social Network Searching Summer Update
There are always new Web sites to visit and use for our investigative work. In this article, we focus on social network investigations and the latest sites - or updates to those you are already familiar with. -
Counterterrorism and Social Media
As an Internet investigator, the following are tools, resources, and tips I would recommend to anyone in this field, once an event has occurred and social media is available. Most importantly, the article will conclude with some shared open source services that will help to identify potentially risky behavior and negative content before an event occurs. -
Across the Ocean - Business Due Diligence in the Republic of China
How does the well-informed investigator determine if a company located in the Republic of China is reputable and free from encumbrances? In this article you will be given a systematic account of the due diligence steps necessary to answer the above question. This article examines the steps, thought processes, and online resources necessary to achieve success with business due diligence in China. The objective of our investigation is to minimize monetary and reputational risks involved with a foreign business. -
Expert techniques for finding experts
For over a decade many have considered the word "expert" a dirty word. Once you start calling yourself an expert, other are waiting in the wings to knock you down a peg, However they do exist. Many individuals have spent their life focusing on an area of interest to which they can attribute advance education and contribution. -
Due Diligence with LexisNexis and WestLaw
The value of combining traditional media (e.g., news, journals, and the written word vs. social media) with online litigation searches is immeasurable. Case after case has been made thanks to finding articles with a mere mention of our subject referenced. Old court cases, no longer accessible from county Web sites—if ever they were available—can also be located. -
Acxiom and AboutTheData.com
Acxiom uses sophisticated business intelligence and marketing databases "to strengthen connections between businesses, individuals, and their partners." Further information on the Acxiom Web site states that they have "cutting-edge, data-oriented products and services that create better living values for their clients" -
Facebook Graph Searching
In this issue learn about how Facebook announced Graph Search, a Facebook-specific search engine which allows you to search all of the things people have shared with you. If your post is set to "public" that means that anyone can find it through a Facebook Graph Search. Facebook has been steadily making changes to privacy and security controls, including changes made to app permissions, untagging and removing photos, and adding privacy shortcuts in 2012. -
Investigating with eBay
Looking for counterfeit products, stolen good, or simply a great bargain? We explore the intricacies and avenues for utilizing the veteran Web site, and other auction sites, to find leads and makes cases in our online investigations. This issue also covers the latest social networks, media, medical and business resources for your due diligence. -
Investigating with Instagram
Instagram is a smartphone application that allows for photo-sharing over social networks. Once the photo is taken, any number of filters can be applied to the photo greyscale, sepia, darker, brighter, etc.) – and significantly altered; a mini-version of Adobe Photoshop, if you will. Additionally, the image can be placed in a frame, cropping the photo down in size, and cutting out all the noise in the background. Apparently this is a lot of fun to do, because Instagram has 60 million photos uploaded every day to its service with more than 65 percent of the activity coming in from overseas (www.instagram.com/press/). -
Primer for Due Diligence Investigations
Primer for Due Diligence Investigations will explain what due diligence is and how online due diligence can accomplish much with very little. We outline the phases of conducting proper research and the necessary skill sets that are indispensable for this work.
