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Techno West San Diego

2025 Conference Program

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2025 Conference Program

The 2025 Conference Program is defined by primary topics. Therefore, each session has a primary topic designation for attendees to quickly find those sessions of relevance and importance to them. Sessions are also classified by both Target Level (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced or All) and Target Audience (Corporate/Private Sector, Government, Investigators, Law Enforcement/Police, Prosecutors/Attorneys/Legal).

To sort by topics, audience, and levels to find the program that best suits your needs, click on Filters.

For a list of all sessions by day, please click on the day/date link.

Note - classifications are simply a guide to help attendees select the best sessions for individual needs/experience, and by no means should exclude or deter anyone from attending a session of interest.

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Monday, October 27, 2025
    • Keynote
    Keynote:Operation Shamrock: Disrupting Transnational Crime and Protecting Victims
    Pacific D-E
    Join us for a powerful and eye-opening presentation by Erin West, a leading expert in combating transnational organized crime and the founder of Operation Shamrock. In this engaging one-hour talk, Eri ...
    Speaker(s)
    Erin West
    Erin West, Founder - Operation Shamrock
    • Investigations
    Countering AI Hallucinations in Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)
    Pacific C
    AI is revolutionizing Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) for digital investigations, providing analysts & investigators with powerful tools to identify risks & enhance situational awareness. But AI-gene ...
    Speaker(s)
    Cynthia Hetherington
    Cynthia Hetherington, CEO and Founder - Hetherington Group
    • Forensics
    Let AI Do the Listening: A Proof of Concept for Triage of Large Amounts of Audio Files
    Pacific H-I
    This presentation introduces a proof of concept (POC) aimed at addressing the challenge of triaging large volumes of audio files. The common method of reviewing audio on a 1:1 ratio is time-consuming ...
    Speaker(s)
    Frank Lyu
    Frank Lyu, Senior Digital Forensic Analyst - Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General
    • eDiscovery
    Top Trends from eDiscovery Today: Metadata, Mobile & Cloud Challenges
    Pacific F-G
    Based on analysis from the eDiscovery Today blog by Editor and Chief Contributor Doug Austin, this session explores four recurring trends that are redefining digital forensic workflows and eDiscovery ...
    Speaker(s)
    Jerry Bui
    Jerry Bui, CEO - Right Forensics
    Doug Austin
    Doug Austin, Editor & Chief - eDiscovery Today
    • Cybersecurity
    It is 2025… Is Microsoft Active Directory Still Risky to Your Enterprise? Top Active Directory Security Settings Missed by Every Organization
    Pacific C
    Microsoft Active Directory is 25! Over 98% of organizations still use it, as it is key to the enterprise. Do your IT and security teams give this part of your enterprise enough attention to ensure it ...
    Speaker(s)
    Derek Melber
    Derek Melber, Chief Strategist - Braincore.net
    • eDiscovery
    What the Flock is the EDRM (and why do I care)?
    Pacific F-G
    This session offers insights into key eDiscovery methodologies—particularly those aligned with the EDRM (Electronic Discovery Reference Model)—and shares why this framework is essential for Forensic a ...
    Speaker(s)
    Bree Murphy
    Bree Murphy, Sr. Solutions Engineer - eDiscovery Chicks/ Exterro
    Angie Nolet
    Angie Nolet, Co-Founder/Co-Host - eDiscovery Chicks Podcast
    • Forensics
    The Six Pillars of Digital Evidence: Strengthening Your Case from Every Angle
    Pacific D
    Strong digital investigations rely on diverse evidence sources. The Six Pillars of Digital Evidence—physical devices, video footage, call records, vehicle infotainment systems, OSINT, and cloud data—s ...
    Speaker(s)
    Chad Gish
    Chad Gish, Forensic Consultant - Magnet Forensics
    Jeff Rutherford
    Jeff Rutherford, Forensic Consultant - Magnet Forensics
    • Forensics
    Fraud Detection on a Budget: Adding Open Source AI Detection to your DFIR toolkit
    Pacific E
    This session demonstrates how organizations can implement enterprise-grade AI fraud detection using entirely open-source tools. Additionally, the session will review the benefits of implementation, cu ...
    Speaker(s)
    Joe Pochron
    Joe Pochron, Managing Director - Nardello & Co.
    Karsten Wilkinson
    Karsten Wilkinson, Director - Nardello & Co.
    • Investigations
    Uncovering the Hidden Truth: Dark Web Marketplaces & Child Exploitation
    Pacific E
    The dark web is a hidden digital battleground where predators exploit encryption and cryptocurrency to traffic children beyond the reach of traditional law enforcement. This powerful session takes you ...
    Speaker(s)
    Melissa Maranville
    Melissa Maranville, Founder/CEO - DeVille and Associates LLC
    • Investigations
    From Seizure to Story: Telling a Case Narrative with Mobile Evidence
    Pacific C
    In mobile forensics, extracting data is just the start—the real value lies in building clear, compelling narratives that investigators and attorneys can understand. This session covers techniques for ...
    Speaker(s)
    Adam Firman
    Adam Firman, Tech Evangelist - MSAB
    • Forensics
    Cloudy with a Chance of Exfil: Obscure Cyber Threat Actor Persistence and Exfiltration Mechanisms
    Pacific F-G
    Prolific threat actors in the last year have thrived on double-extortion; proving the ransomware economy remains strong. To hold organizations hostage, identity is now the target of adversary tactics, ...
    Speaker(s)
    Mark Gramajo
    Mark Gramajo, Sr. Security Researcher - Microsoft
    • Cybersecurity
    Staying Ahead of Cybercriminals: Generative AI and the New Era of Financial Fraud
    Pacific D
    This session will help attendees understand the threat landscape and gain insights into how cybercriminals are leveraging Generative AI, including deepfakes, to execute sophisticated financial fraud s ...
    Speaker(s)
    Michele Boland
    Michele Boland, Global Technologist - Check Point Software Technologies
    • Cybersecurity
    Data Classification: The Foundation of Data Protection
    Pacific C
    Abstract Proposal: Strong cybersecurity controls can only be applied to data when an organization knows which data is the most sensitive or the most important. Many organizations attempt to protect th ...
    Speaker(s)
    John Wallace
    John Wallace, Senior IT Auditor II - Security Service Federal Credit Union
    • Investigations
    Needle, Not Haystack: Strategies for Targeted Digital Evidence Collection
    Pacific D
    Investigators face mounting pressure to analyze massive data volumes quickly while maintaining evidentiary integrity. This session delivers practical triage and selective extraction strategies that re ...
    Speaker(s)
    Rob maddox
    Rob maddox, Global Director of Training and Technical Sales - Detego Global
    • eDiscovery
    Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI: Causes of Action and Defenses and Discovery
    Pacific F-G
    Artificial intelligence (AI) and, more specifically, Generative AI (Gen AI) have taken the world by storm. It has led to government investigations, state and local regulation, and civil actions arisin ...
    Speaker(s)
    Ronald Hedges
    Ronald Hedges, Principal - Ronald J. Hedges LLC
    Bernice Donald
    Bernice Donald, Retired Sixth Circuit judge, mediator - Burch Porter
    • Investigations
    Transforming OSINT: The Breakthrough of Automation and AI on Threat Detection
    Pacific F-G
    Abstract Proposal: By leveraging advanced AI and machine learning techniques, we can significantly enhance the efficiency and accuracy of threat detection processes. We will dive into examples like th ...
    Speaker(s)
    Evan Smith
    Evan Smith, Account Director, Dept of Justice - Fivecast
    • Forensics
    An Employee Stole Millions of Dollars Worth of Company Data... Or Did They?
    Pacific D
    This session will walk through the forensics of a case related to the alleged theft of high value company data. This case is a real whodunit - a riddle, wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, and stuf ...
    Speaker(s)
    Matt Danner
    Matt Danner, Owner/Founder - Monolith Forensics
    • Cybersecurity
    Hidden Dangers Of AI In Developer Workflows: Navigating Security Risks with Human Insight
    Pacific C
    AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot have become indispensable in developers' daily workflows. AI can help eliminate a lot of toil from the developer's day-to-day. But the hidden dangers it introduces ar ...
    Speaker(s)
    Dwayne McDaniel
    Dwayne McDaniel, Senior Developer Advocate - GitGuardian
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
    • Cybersecurity
    Invisible Threats: When Digital Images Become Attack Vectors
    Pacific E
    Digital images are increasingly used to hide malware using steganography. This session explores the history of data hiding, real-world cases of image-based attacks, and the TTPs used by cybercriminals ...
    Speaker(s)
    Chet Hosmer
    Chet Hosmer, Chief Scientist - Python Forensics
    • Forensics
    Unmasking Global Tech-Enabled Fraud: A Digital Forensics Case Study from Punjab
    Pacific C
    This session showcases how Punjab Police leveraged digital forensics to dismantle two international scam call centers that defrauded over 100,000 victims globally. It highlights live evidence seizure, ...
    Speaker(s)
    Rohit Heera
    Rohit Heera, Digital Forensic Lab Manager - Punjab Police, India
    • Investigations
    Shielding Our Protectors
    Pacific F-G
    Professionals in cybercrime, digital forensics, and law enforcement are routinely exposed to graphic content, high-stakes decision-making, and overwhelming caseloads—conditions that contribute to cumu ...
    Speaker(s)
    Melissa Kaiser
    Melissa Kaiser, Trainer and Consultant - MelKai Consulting, LLC
    • Cybersecurity
    Key Trends From the Dark Web on the State of the Cyber Threat Landscape
    Pacific C
    The dark web gives us an unprecedented window into the cybercriminal underground. Monitoring dark web forums, marketplaces, and hidden sites allows us to gather intelligence directly from the source – ...
    Speaker(s)
    Ben Jones
    Ben Jones, CEO and Co-Founder - Searchlight Cyber
    • Investigations
    Bridging the Gap: Empowering Non-Technical Investigators with Mobile Data Insights
    Pacific D
    Mobile forensic examiners often work in silos, extracting data and handing off reports to investigators who may not know where to begin. This session explores how to bridge that gap by rethinking how ...
    Speaker(s)
    Adam Firman
    Adam Firman, Tech Evangelist - MSAB
    • Forensics
    Generative AI: Taking Discovery by Storm and the Impact on Digital Investigations
    Pacific E
    Generative AI (ChatGPT, Gemini, Llama 4, etc.) is an evolutionary technology taking all industries by storm. Most collaboration, social media, and messaging apps have or will be embedding this product ...
    Speaker(s)
    Julie Lewis
    Julie Lewis, President & CEO - Digital Mountain, Inc.
    • Cybersecurity
    How to Best Manage Your Organization’s AI Risk
    Pacific C
    A Joint speaking session on best practices in managing Artificial Intelligence in your ofganization. The session will discuss highlights from the NIST Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework ...
    Speaker(s)
    Michael Melore
    Michael Melore, Cybersecurity Evangelist, CISSP - IBM
    Keith Clement
    Keith Clement, Chair of Governor's Cyber Taskforce - Workforce and Development - State of California
    • eDiscovery
    Cost-Effective eDiscovery Production Strategies: Balancing Budget Constraints with Legal Requirements
    Pacific F-G
    This practical session explores innovative approaches to managing eDiscovery productions while maintaining compliance and controlling costs in today's data-intensive litigation environment. Attendees ...
    Speaker(s)
    Brett Burney
    Brett Burney, VP eDiscovery Consulting - Nextpoint Law Group
    • Investigations
    Cracking the Code: How AI is Reshaping Investigations, OSINT, and Digital Forensics
    Pacific D
    Artificial intelligence is transforming investigative techniques, offering powerful new capabilities in digital forensics, OSINT, and investigation. This session provides a practical overview of how A ...
    Speaker(s)
    Todd Shipley
    Todd Shipley, President - Dark Intel
    • Investigations
    Drones, Digital Evidence, and Discovery: The Use of AI in Law Enforcement
    Pacific C
    Within our contemporary world, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly used both personally and professionally to replace everything from jobs and judgment. With caution, it can also be used both ...
    Speaker(s)
    Wendy Patrick
    Wendy Patrick, Career Prosecutor, Consultant - Black Swan Verdicts Threat Assessment and Consulting
    Ted Fiorito
    Ted Fiorito, Deputy District Attorney - San Diego County District Attorney's Office
    • eDiscovery
    Recent Case Law Shaping eDiscovery, Mobile Forensics, and AI Transparency
    Pacific F-G
    As mobile data proliferates and artificial intelligence enters legal workflows, courts are increasingly weighing in on what constitutes defensible, ethical, and proportional eDiscovery. This session e ...
    Speaker(s)
    Monica Harris
    Monica Harris, Principal Consultant - Consult Harris Collective (CHC)
    Bobby Williams
    Bobby Williams, Director, Investigator & GCFE Inclusion Chair
    Lea Malani Bays
    Lea Malani Bays, Partner - Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP
    • Forensics
    Inside the Confidence Factor: Assessing the Accuracy of iPhone GPS Data for Digital Forensics
    Pacific D
    This session shares a study that examines the reliability of Apple's geolocation confidence factor in digital forensic data extracted from iPhones. By comparing extracted GPS points to a known referen ...
    Speaker(s)
    Jeff Rutherford
    Jeff Rutherford, Forensic Consultant - Magnet Forensics
    • Cybersecurity
    A NIST Cyber Framework for Everyone. Presenting CSF 2.0
    Pacific F-G
    Designed for all industry sectors and organization types, Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0 is the tool for you. In 32 pages, it outlines 108 essential goals for organizational and management prioriti ...
    Speaker(s)
    Barry Hudson
    Barry Hudson, Adjunct Professor Cybersecurity - USC-Aiken (SC)
    • Forensics
    The Rise of IoT in Digital Investigations
    Pacific D
    IoT devices are everywhere and causing potential chaos with the data they collect and store. With risks to digital security and information sharing they are becoming a prime suspect in digital evidenc ...
    Speaker(s)
    Amber Schroader
    Amber Schroader, CEO - Paraben Corporation
    • Investigations
    Reversing through the Unimaginable: How a Google Reverse Keyword Search Warrant Solved a Devastating Whodunnit
    Pacific E
    On August 5, 2020, a fire engulfed a home in the Green Valley Ranch neighborhood of Denver, Colorado, taking the lives of three adults and two children - immigrants from Senegal who had no apparent co ...
    Speaker(s)
    Cathee Hansen
    Cathee Hansen, Senior Deputy District Attorney & Digital Evidence Specialist - Adams County District Attorney’s Office
    Neil Baker
    Neil Baker, Detective - Denver Police Department
    • Forensics
    Trust No One, Train Everyone: Digital Forensics in the Crossfire of AI and Zero Trust"
    Pacific F-G
    This session will discuss the importance of zero trust for forensic integrity, how AI/ML can be used to accelerate investigations, and share how integration, not just tools, is the future of forensics ...
    Speaker(s)
    Nrupul Rao Ponugoti
    Nrupul Rao Ponugoti, CEO - ProDiscover Forensics
    • Investigations
    Beyond the Browser: What It Really Takes to Stay Anonymous Online in 2025
    Pacific D
    Staying anonymous online in 2025 requires far more than a VPN. Platforms now correlate data from browser fingerprints, OS-level signals, geolocation, and behavioral patterns to identify users. This se ...
    Speaker(s)
    Sagi Brody
    Sagi Brody, CTO & Co-Founder - SockPuppet
    • Forensics
    USB Flash Drive Artifact Hunt
    Pacific C
    Abstract Proposal: Forensic examination of USB device activity is crucial for many different types of investigations. Findings of connections are useful for proof of data exfiltration and/or identifyi ...
    Speaker(s)
    Kate Davenport
    Kate Davenport, Training Instructor - Exterro
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
    • Cybersecurity
    You Can Hide, but You Must Run
    Pacific F-G
    As organizations rely more on mobile devices to stay connected with internal systems for productivity and to work remotely, the attack surface mobile computing presents has exponential increased. In r ...
    Speaker(s)
    Dave Gonzalez
    Dave Gonzalez, Senior Security, Critical Infrastructure
    • Forensics
    Forensics and Cybercrime Investigations in Mobile Money Wallet Ecosystems – An African Perspective
    Pacific C
    This session explores real-world forensic investigations into cybercrime targeting mobile money wallet systems operated by banks, fintechs, and telecoms in Africa. Through detailed case studies, atten ...
    Speaker(s)
    John Semakula
    John Semakula, Chief Eexcutive Officer - ATT4CYBER LIMITED
    • Investigations
    Investigating the Darkweb: Unmasking Anonymous Networks
    Pacific D
    As anonymization tools become commonplace, criminals increasingly exploit anonymous networks to evade detection. Understanding these networks is crucial for investigators tackling cybercrime and OSINT ...
    Speaker(s)
    Todd Shipley
    Todd Shipley, President - Dark Intel
    • Forensics
    Digital Forensic Laboratory Management and Best Practices
    Pacific E
    This session will offer attendees insights and recommendations on how to manage a digital forensic laboratory and implement best practices. Topics covered include laboratory processes, procedures, qua ...
    Speaker(s)
    Andre Champagne
    Andre Champagne, Forensic Supervisor - State of Minnesota - MNIT Services
    • eDiscovery
    Tackling Hyperlinked Files in M365, Google and Slack and the Impact on Digital Investigations
    Pacific F-G
    Abstract Proposal: Whether you call them hyperlinked files, modern attachments or pointers to files in messages, we will discuss new developments impacting eDiscovery and digital investigations and wh ...
    Speaker(s)
    Kurt Ekensten
    Kurt Ekensten, Project Manager/Forensic Examiner - Digital Mountain, Inc.
    Robyn Shepard
    Robyn Shepard, Manager, ESI Consulting & Project Management - Digital Mountain, Inc.
    • Cybersecurity
    AI-Powered Threat Hunting: Separating Hype from Operational Impact
    Pacific D
    The rush to integrate AI into threat detection has outpaced practical guidance for security teams. This session cuts through the marketing noise, offering real-world examples of AI-enhanced threat hun ...
    Speaker(s)
    Steven Bolt
    Steven Bolt, Deputy CISO/Chief Cybersecurity Risk Officer - Bechtel
    • Investigations
    The Nexus of Tech and Trafficking: A Multi-Disciplinary Response
    Pacific E
    Abstract Proposal: Traffickers increasingly exploit technology to groom, recruit, and control victims. This session highlights how multidisciplinary teams—analysts, prosecutors, and social workers—col ...
    Speaker(s)
    Melissa Kaiser
    Melissa Kaiser, Trainer and Consultant - MelKai Consulting, LLC
    David Weiss
    David Weiss, Chief, Human Trafficking Unit - Kings County District Attorney’s Office
    Christian Souvenir
    Christian Souvenir, Supervising Intelligence Analyst, Human Trafficking Unit - Kings County District Attorney’s Office
    • Forensics
    Custom Parsers for SQLite Artifacts: Uncovering Evidence from Unsupported Messaging Platforms
    Pacific D
    This session presents a case study on forensic analysis of SQLite databases from Android and iOS apps not supported by commercial tools. Using open-source solutions and custom parsers, the session sho ...
    Speaker(s)
    Patrick Oliveira
    Patrick Oliveira, Forensic Consultant - TechBiz Forense Digital
    • Investigations
    Introducing LMDA: Enhancing Lateral movement and Data Access Identification on Windows Systems
    Pacific F-G
    This session addresses the challenges of detecting lateral movement, data access, and exfiltration on Windows systems during DFIR investigations. Traditional sources like Windows Event Logs are limite ...
    Speaker(s)
    Phalgun Kulkarni
    Phalgun Kulkarni, Sr. DFIR Consultant - Aon / Stroz Friedberg
    Partha Alwar
    Partha Alwar, Director, DFIR - Aon / Stroz Friedberg
    Mitchell Green
    Mitchell Green, Director, DFIR - Aon / Stroz Friedberg
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
    • Forensics
    Understanding Image and Video Authentication - Finding the Real in a (Deep)Fake World
    Pacific D
    Deepfakes & image manipulation are a growing threat to investigations. As examiners, you need to confidently authenticate visual evidence. During an investigation, this becomes vital in identifying vi ...
    Speaker(s)
    Blake Sawyer
    Blake Sawyer, US Operations Director - Amped Software USA
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