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FBI tells ISPs to keep logs

CNET pointed out earlier this week, that Robert Mueller, director of the FBI, has asked Internet service providers to record their customers' online activities in order to track down activities related to terrorism or sexual predators.

"All too often, we find that before we can catch these offenders, Internet service providers have unwittingly deleted the very records that would help us identify these offenders and protect future victims," said FBI director Robert Mueller.

CNET reports that as of right now, ISPs typically throw away log files that aren't relevant for business reasons such as network monitoring, fraud prevention or billing disputes, but that may all change. According to the article, the FBI and Justice Department are also thinking of forcing search engines to keep logs.

Interesting to see how this pans out. LMI is already being touted for network forensics -- it could easily make searching for evidence in these other scenarios.. effortless.

LMI also should allow for better management of the log files themselves. For instance, by providing better chain of custody over the secure log data thereby providing better assurance in relation to privacy and disclosure of log records. In effect, business and IT policies related to log data could be easily enforced by the LMI solution selected.

Posted October 18, 2006 in Log Management & Intelligence | Permalink