Unshredding Software Is a Thing

The intrepid folks at Safe Guard in Tel Aviv, have developed Unshredder, a shredded document reconstruction system. How well does it work? I downloaded a trial version of the software tonight to find out.

The trial version doesn't allow you to test it out with actual shredded paper (a license costs $90 per month, and Litigation Support Tip of the Night is a one man, no budget operation) but it does demonstrate the process.

As the user manual makes clear, but the web site does not, the software merely renders shredded strips of paper into paper, which the user must arrange into a reconstructed page. It does not match up the shreds of paper automatically. It merely saves you the trouble of handling individual shards of shredded paper. The workflow facilitated by Unshredder clearly first requires someone to isolate shredded pieces from a single page of paper into one digital set of images to be arranged.

The user works with an original scanned page containing the 'puzzle pieces' to be fit in, and a working page in which the whole is reconstructed.

Unshredder may make a very laborious tasks somewhat easier by avoiding damage to shards as they are manipulated, and allowing them to be arranged more quickly, but it does not take the guesswork out of reassembling torn up paper.

Stingray trackers

Be aware that government and law enforcement agencies, as well as some private organizations or individuals, operating in a legal gray zone, may be use 'Stingray' phone trackers to intercept cellular phone communications.

The devices can intercept International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) signals. They mimic wireless cell phone towers and force mobile phones to connect to them. The Stingray devices can be used to conduct denial of service attacks; detect the content of communications; and determine the location of cell phone users.

Stingray devices work by forcing cellular devices to communicate with them by sending out a stronger signal than actual cell sites in the immediate area. Journalists have reported, that Stingrays have been used frequently by local police departments and the FBI to track down criminal suspects.

Hand held stingray devices may be referred to as a 'Kingfish' device, and are often carried in patrol vehicles. Stingray and Kingfish are brand names used by the Harris Corporation.

Subpoenaing Unnamed Defendants Known by IP Addresses

On April 9, 2018, Judge Steven Locke issued a decision, In re Strike 3 Holdings, LLC, 17-cv-5606, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 59961 (E.D.N.Y.), granting a motion for expedited discovery under FRCP 26(d)(1) to served subpoenas on ISPs to obtain the identity of unnamed defendants identified only by their IP addresses.

The plaintiff is the copyright owner of adult movies which are distributed on the web. The Doe defendants are alleged to have pirated the films using BitTorrent. A forensic investigator employed by the plaintiff was able to identify IP addresses in the BitTorrent file distribution network and determine how many copies of the movies were made.

A second consultant used the Wireshank program to verify the IP addresses.

While the Court found good cause for expedited discovery, and agreed to issue Rule 45 subpoenas, it limited the plaintiff to requesting the names and addresses of the individuals to whom the IP addresses were assigned but barred disclosure of their phone numbers and email addresses. The ISPs were instructed not to directly provide the plaintiff with names and addresses but instead serve the subscribers with a copy of the subpoena and the court’s order. The subscribers will then have 60 days to file a motion to quash. After 60 days a failure to contest the subpoena means the ISP has to disclose the names and addresses in 10 days to Strike 3 or file it’s own motion to quash.

TONIGHT IS THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF LITIGATION SUPPORT TIP OF THE NIGHT. TIPS APPEAR EACH NIGHT, 365 NIGHTS A YEAR.