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An Illustration Of Hashing And Its Effect On Illegal File Content In The Digital Age, Stephen Hoffman
An Illustration Of Hashing And Its Effect On Illegal File Content In The Digital Age, Stephen Hoffman
Stephen P. Hoffman
I aim to show, through practical examples, that computer forensics techniques such as the use of hash values are inherently flawed in tracking illegal computer files. First, I describe the underlying theory of hashing algorithms and hash values, as well as explain that several U.S. government agencies keep detailed file databases in order to track or detect illegal files, e.g. pirated media or child pornography. These databases include the file’s unique hash values. Then, I provide real examples of hash values using MD5 and SHA-1 hashing algorithms to show how extremely minor alterations to a computer file produce radically different …
Biometrics, Retinal Scanning, And The Right To Privacy In The 21st Century, Stephen Hoffman
Biometrics, Retinal Scanning, And The Right To Privacy In The 21st Century, Stephen Hoffman
Stephen P. Hoffman
Biometric identification techniques such as retinal scanning and fingerprinting have now become commonplace, but near-future improvements on these methods present troubling issues for personal privacy. For example, retinal scanning can be used to diagnose certain medical conditions, even ones for which the patient has no symptoms or has any other way of detecting the problem. If a health insurance company scans the retinas of potential clients before they purchase coverage, they could be charged higher premiums for conditions that do not present any issues. Not only is this unfair, but the ease with which these scans can be conducted—including scanning …