SEARCH | Wireless Networks & Volatile Data

Volatile data is data that requires power to maintain its existence. If power is removed from a device, the volatile data is erased and gone forever. As an on-scene investigator, it’s likely that you are often faced with processing live crime scenes that contain an abundance of digital evidence. Traditional digital evidence collection methods may result in evidence being left at the crime scene or being inadvertently deleted from computers entirely. Don’t let that happen to your case.

We can teach you how to conduct pre-raid electronic surveillance of a suspect location to identify wireless networks and access points. We’ll show you how to locate these networks and access points and how to recover volatile evidence commonly found on network devices (routers, switches, and hubs) as well as the volatile evidence running on active systems.

Additional Resources

Courses

Instructor-led Training

Core Skills for the Investigation of Mobile Devices
Network Investigation and Digital Triage
Online Investigations: Tools, Tips, and Techniques
The Investigation of Computer Crime
Peer-to-Peer Investigations

Resources

ISP List
SEARCH Investigative Toolbar
High-Tech Crime Publications
Podcasts
Calendar

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Questions About Wireless Networks and Volatile Data

Karen Lissy

Ms. Karen Lissy is a Justice Information Services Specialist for the Law and Policy Program of SEARCH, The National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics. In this position, she provides assistance to state and local justice and public safety agencies to collect, curate, and use National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) data and computerized criminal history record (CCH/CHRI) information for policy analysis and development.

She also guides justice and related organizations in how to craft and implement laws, policies, practices, and technology applications to effectively collect and use CCH and related justice/public safety data; address legal, policy, and regulatory issues associated with CCH data; better manage and operate criminal justice information and identification systems; and develop security and privacy policies that protect justice information sharing systems.

Ms. Lissy has nearly two decades of research and data analysis experience, having led projects and tasks in support of two agencies within the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (the Bureau of Justice Statistics and National Institute of Justice), as well as the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, and multiple foundations, including Ford, Annie E. Casey, and Hewlett. Prior to joining SEARCH in October 2020, Ms. Lissy served as a Social Science Researcher at RTI International, as a regional Crime Analyst for the Redmond (WA) Police Department, and as Director of a research program with the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis. Beginning in 2012, Ms. Lissy’s work has focused on improving data in law enforcement to answer policy questions and improve community/police relations.

Ms. Lissy earned a Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from Duke University, and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.