Microsoft has confirmed that its tool designed for law
enforcement agencieshas been posted on the webbut it does not expect
cyber-criminals to be able to use the software to their
advantage.
The software, known as
Computer Online Forensic Evidence Extractor (Cofee), is
available on the web, but it is illegal for unauthorised people to
download it or use it.
The software helps law enforcement agencies access details about
crimes before criminals can wipe the information.
But Microsoft said Cofee is just a collection of digital
forensic tools which are actually already available. "Its value for
law enforcement is not in secret functionality unknown to
cybercriminals. Its value is in the way Cofee brings those tools
together in a simple and customisable format for law enforcement
use in the field," said Richard Boscovich, senior attorney in
Microsoft's internet safety enforcement team.
