Latest news with #digitalforensics
Al Bawaba
5 days ago
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Viral image of Mossad spy launched on Missile toward Israel
ALBAWABA - Media studies have shown that a widely shared picture on social media that said it showed a Mossad spy being killed by being tied to an Iranian missile aimed at Israel was not real. Also Read Israel allegedly assassinates former Iranian President Ahmadinejad The picture, which shows a guy tied to an Iranian flag-wrapped missile, went viral online with reports that it showed the killing of an Israeli spy as tensions between Tehran and Tel Aviv continue to rise. The shocking claim said the man was sent toward Israel as a way for Iran to get back at Israel. Al-Watan checked the facts and found that no reliable or government source confirmed that the picture was real. Mehr News Agency and other Iranian state media did report earlier today that Ismail Fekri had been put to death for spying and mischief on behalf of Mossad. He is still not connected to the picture going viral. When the spreading photo of Fekri was compared to official pictures of him released by the Iranian government, it was found that his face features and overall look were very different. Iranian sources say that Fekri was caught in 2023 after security found evidence that he was involved with Israeli activities. Image manipulation has been proven by experts. Dr. Mona Eid, a specialist in digital forensics and spreading false information, told Al-Watan that the pictures going popular are fake. One was probably changed in Photoshop, and the other one looks like it was made with AI-based tools. "There are clear signs that it was made up," she said. "The lighting is off, the body posture isn't right, and in one picture, the person's hands are missing and their face isn't clear—all of these are common signs of fake visual content." Disinformation's dangers during times of crisis Dr. Eid also stressed the risks of sharing fake images during times of high conflict, pointing out that they can be used to spread lies and hurt the trustworthiness of the media. "These kinds of pictures can seriously hurt the credibility of Iranian media and spread false information in places that are already tense," she said. "Verifying content before accepting or sharing it is very important, especially during times of war or political unrest." More and more people are worried about how fake images and material made by AI are being used in modern war stories, especially in battles where psychological operations and public opinion are very important.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Down 36%, is this US growth stock about to surge again?
US growth stocks have largely been on a stellar run since the start of 2023. That certainly has been the case with Cellebrite DI (NASDAQ:CLBT), climbing by over 480% and reaching an all-time high in February. Yet since then, its performance has slipped a bit. Its 2024 fourth-quarter earnings missed the mark, as did its subsequent 2025 first-quarter results. And while the miss was small, growth inventors tend to be quite unforgiving towards businesses trading at lofty valuations. So seeing a 36% pullback from its February highs isn't a major surprise. However, with the stock now trading at a cheaper price, could this be a buying opportunity? As a quick crash course, Cellebrite specialises in digital forensics. In the corporate world, this technology can be handy when investigating cybersecurity breaches. But for the most part, demand for Cellebrite's technology actually comes from law enforcement agencies. An estimated 90% of crime today has some sort of digital element. As such, requests to decrypt mobile phones and other electronic devices used to commit crimes are creating a significant backlog for investigators and prosecutors – a migraine-level problem that Cellebrite is helping solve. Digging into the latest results, revenue growth continues to be explosive at 20% year-on-year, with annual recurring revenues climbing by 23% to $408m. And with a net retention rate of 121%, customers are clearly finding value in Cellebrite's technology as they're seemingly happy to ramp up spending each year. Sadly, that just wasn't enough to sate the appetite of growth investors who expected a little more top-line growth. And with management forecasting that sales might only grow by 17% for the full year of 2025, the stock endured a bit of a tumble. Even after its recent valuation hit, at a price-to-sales ratio of 8.8, Cellebrite shares can hardly be described as cheap. Yet projections from some analysts suggest that the premium might be worth paying. For example, JPMorgan currently has a share price target of $28 – around 70% higher than today's price. Such large 12-month projections should always be taken with a grain of salt. But Cellebrite's target market is expected to grow at a near-15% annualised rate over the next five years. And given the company's already the top dog in the sector, we might still be in the early days of Cellebrite's growth story – even more so now that profits have started to materialise. Having said that, there's no denying the high risk here. Cellebrite's technology is a powerful tool that can be easily abused if it gets into the wrong hands. This reputational risk is already being put to the test with reports of authoritarian regimes using the technology in human rights violations. Management's already tackling these issues with much stricter customer screening, disabling access when misuse is detected, as well as proactively suspending sales in over 60 countries. Nevertheless, ethical concerns will undoubtedly persist. Despite this risk, I remain an optimist. The valuation's still on the pricey side. But I think the premium might be worth paying, considering the opportunity that Cellebrite's seeking to capitalise on. That's why I've already used the recent stock price weakness to build a small position in my growth portfolio. The post Down 36%, is this US growth stock about to surge again? appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. More reading 5 Stocks For Trying To Build Wealth After 50 One Top Growth Stock from the Motley Fool Zaven Boyrazian has positions in Cellebrite. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Cellebrite. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Motley Fool UK 2025 Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Yahoo
Digital forensics expert takes stand on Day 4 of Horry County murder trial
An expert in digital forensics read intimate conversations as evidence when he took the stand on Day 4 of the Horry County murder trial of Meagan Jackson. Jackson is on trial for allegedly shooting and killing Greg Rice, her ex-boyfriend and father to her four children, on Oct. 2, 2020. The trial began Tuesday, with Jackson facing charges of murder and criminal conspiracy. Former Horry County deputy coroner Christopher Dontell, Jackson's lover, admitted providing assistance by dumping Rice's body in the Little Pee Dee River overnight Oct. 3-4, 2020, pleading guilty to accessory after the fact and criminal conspiracy in December 2024. Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Wells was called to the stand Friday to testify about extracting evidence from cellphones belonging to Jackson and Erica Dontell, Christopher Dontell's wife. He also read from anonymous messages sent to Erica Dontell attempting to expose the affair between Jackson and Christopher Dontell, including texts reading, 'I thought you should know about how your husband has someone else pregnant,' and, 'The girl that is pregnant is Meagan.' Jackson and Dontell were family friends who began having an affair in 2020. Jackson allegedly brought Rice's body to the Myrtle Beach Funeral Home after killing him, around Oct. 2, 2020, The Sun News previously reported. Rice's body was later discovered, wrapped in a tarp, by people stringing catfish lines overnight Nov. 7-8 near Pitts Landing. Wells explained that he used software called Cellebrite to help extract the data and split it into categories for investigation. He explained that a web service called Text4Free had been used to send the messages to Erica Dontell anonymously. Wells' testimony also included images shared via links, which allow large images to be shared among recipients. Several links were found on Jackson's phone from Sept. 27, 2020, containing screenshots of text message exchanges between Jackson and Christopher Dontell. Messages included conversations regarding Jackson's appointment to get an abortion, with a photo of several pregnancy tests she had taken. The defense objected to the position now being taken by the prosecution, which they said was trying to paint Jackson as the sender of the anonymous messages, a move they said they didn't know was going to be made. This objection led to a recess, during which Jackson held animated conversations with her attorneys and made frequent visits to their computers. Also presented was an anonymous email sent to Erica Dontell on Oct. 1, 2020, claiming to have proof of the affair between Christopher Dontell and Jackson. The email had several attachments, including nude photographs and screenshots of text conversations that were shown being created on Jackson's phone before the email was sent. Some of the texts shared between Jackson and Christopher Dontell said that Rice had found out about Jackson's pregnancy with Christopher Dontell, and that he was indicating he would reveal their relationship. A message was then sent from Jackson's phone reading, 'I'm all for popping a tire on the highway or cuttin a break line (sic) on him,' to which Christopher Dontell's contact replied, 'Unfortunately I am too now.' When Dontell testified Thursday, he claimed that he aided in dumping Rice's body because he feared that Jackson would kill him, The Sun News reported. He said that on the night of Oct. 2. 2020, he drove Jackson to Rice's apartment complex because Jackson said she needed to speak with Rice. When he saw Rice outside, he pulled up next to him. Then, he said Jackson opened the door of her work minivan and fired a gun at Rice, proceeding to yell at Dontell to help her with the body. Dontell claimed that he did not want to be part of the crime, but that Jackson threatened to kill him if he told anybody. This was the first piece of direct evidence tying Jackson to Rice's murder. In the presented text conversations between Jackson and Rice, it was revealed that Rice said he was going to 'start letting people know the truth' about Jackson's 'lies.' He later messaged her 'all I can say is wait for the storm.' As these text exchanges were read aloud to the jury by Wells, Jackson whispered to her attorneys. Jackson's 19-year-old daughter, Savannah Rice, became emotional as messages between Jackson and Greg Rice were read, some of which regarded her and her siblings. On Tuesday, Savannah Rice testified against her mother, saying that Jackson made a comment alluding to killing Rice before the discovery of his body, during a fight between her mother and her sister. Also during Tuesday's session, security footage was shown putting Jackson and Dontell together for much of the night of Rice's death. The defense argued during its cross-examination of Wells that the presented messages were 'cherry-picked,' and that Jackson has tried to help Erica and Christopher Dontell find out how the anonymous messages had been sent, and by whom. Wells replied that because device extractions are 'extremely large,' they require excerpts to be taken from them. The trial will continue Tuesday morning.
Zawya
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Nigeria: FG inspects national cybercrime centre in Bayelsa
The Office of the Special Assistant to the President on ICT Development and Digital Innovation has hosted the Commissioner of Police, National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), Abuja, CP Oche Henry Ifeayin, for the official inspection of the South-South Annex of the NPF-NCCC in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The facility, which will serve the cybercrime and digital forensics needs of Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Edo, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States, is said to be a result of strategic collaboration between government and private sector players. In a demonstration of active cooperation, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police led the visiting Commissioner on a tour of the state's CCTV surveillance infrastructure, showing real-time digital inclusion efforts through digital surveillance systems deployed across critical areas of Bayelsa State. Nigerian Tribune learnt that annex and its connected innovations form part of a broader legal and national strategy to secure Nigeria's digital space, supported by the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015. Speaking during the inspection, the Special Assistant to the President on ICT Development and Digital Innovation, Tokoni Peter Igoin, said 'section 41 authorizes the establishment of a Cybercrime Advisory Council and Cybercrime Centers for coordination, investigation, and prosecution of digital crimes. 'Sections 38 and 40 support digital evidence gathering and surveillance technologies as tools for law enforcement. 'Our AI-powered Police Check point System is designed with strict adherence to privacy protocols, processing only flagged plate numbers and ensuring data minimization, in compliance with national data protection laws. 'The Act empowers the Nigerian Police Force to deploy modern technology, including digital checkpoints, asurveillance, and forensic tools, to enhance policing efficiency and protect lives and property. 'These support inter-agency digital security integration, cybercrime coordination, and digital intelligence capabilities at both federal and zonal levels. 'This inspection reflects five months of strategic execution since our January 31, 2025 stakeholders' engagement at the Old Sheraton Hotel, Abuja. 'With zero government funding, the annex has been made possible by trusted private partners including PonkebiNG, PalmPay, Easyswap, Opay, and funding support from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). 'Our office remains committed to deploying innovative, law-compliant systems that: Enhance cybercrime detection and prosecution, Provide digital forensics training and equipment to law enforcement, Protect fintech infrastructure through regulatory intelligence, 'To Reduce road extortion via AI-powered checkpoints, Enable youth entrepreneurship through EasyBiz CAC registration on NYSC portals, Secure financial transactions via POS device registration compliance. 'As we move towards the commissioning of the Annex in the month of July, 2025, this inspection confirms the government's commitment to digital transformation in national security while upholding constitutional rights and legal integrity.'
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Limerston Capital Acquires CyberCrowd to Create New Cyber Security Platform
LONDON, May 27, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--UK mid-market private equity investment firm Limerston Capital, today announces the acquisition of CyberCrowd, a UK-based cyber security services specialist. This transaction marks the start of a new platform to create a new platform business alongside assets from an earlier cyber security acquisition that aims to create one of the UK's leading providers of cyber security and digital forensics services, for both public and private sector clients. This strategic acquisition brings together two complementary businesses, supported by highly-skilled teams, to offer broader and more sophisticated services to clients across the UK. The new Group offers not only market-leading digital forensic and cell site capabilities, e-Discovery solutions and a proprietary forensic case management software, but also a 24/7 UK-based SOC offering, highly-accredited incident response solutions, and scaled cyber consultancy and penetration testing services. The new Group will explore additional opportunities for expansion in the cyber security market, as it delivers seamless, end-to-end cyber resilience and digital capabilities for customers across a range of sectors, including those at the forefront of ensuring national security. João Rosa, Founding Partner of Limerston Capital, commented: "We are delighted have completed the acquisition of CyberCrowd for our new cybersecurity platform investment. We believe that with this acquisition, we have formed a solid starting point for a platform in cyber security, which will bring sought-after service capabilities and end-markets to the Group. We look forward to working closely with Mike and the team to capitalise on the many opportunities ahead." Mike Robinson, Managing Director of CyberCrowd, added: "It's great to be part of a business that genuinely helps to make our customers safer and more secure. We have achieved this by building a business that our staff are proud to be part of, one that we're pleased will continue over the coming years as we work on new objectives with Limerston." "As the Group grows, we will be able to provide our clients with extended capabilities, increased technical depth, and access to a broader team of security professionals. I'm very excited to be sharing the next part of our journey with Limerston Capital and look forward to continued growth and opportunities for our colleagues and customers." About Limerston Capital Founded in 2015 by James Paget, João Rosa and Martim Avillez, London based Limerston Capital pursues control investments in UK mid-market companies and seeks to create value through the firm's buy-and-build and operationally focused model. The firm targets businesses with EBITDA of between £5 million and £15 million that have a solid value proposition, but have potential for operational improvements, have mispriced underlying returns on capital and provide opportunities for strategic repositioning via consolidation. View source version on Contacts For more information, please contact:Martim Avillez, Limerston Capital Founding +44 (0)203 897 1860 Media:Caroline Villiers cvilliers@ +44 (0)7808 585184Charlotte Balbirnie cbalbirnie@ +44 (0)7989 528421 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
