Mar ’25 Newsletter
About the Lab
The Forensic Laboratories provides services in six disciplines – Digital Evidence, Firearms, Forensic Chemistry, Fire Debris, Forensic Biology/DNA, and Latent Prints
GrayKey Preserve
The iOS 18 update has implemented a new security feature that significantly limits forensic data extraction. A 72-hour timer reboots the device restricting data extraction to only 5% without a passcode. This reduces the time frame for law enforcement to obtain a warrant and conduct forensic analysis.
The following devices are impacted by the new iOS 18 update security feature: iPhone XR/XS to iPhone 16 and iPads (5th gen Mini and up, 7th gen iPad and up)
To mitigate this challenge, agencies must secure the device’s passcode or transport the phone to a lab or station to install a specialized client using GrayKey Preserve, which pauses the countdown timer. Immediate action is essential to ensure successful data acquisition.
To streamline the process, GrayKey Preserve Boxes are now available for $999 plus $75 shipping. This will allow agencies to preserve the data on a device until a search warrant is obtained and the device can be submitted to the lab for extraction.
For purchasing inquiries, contact Christopher Dinklemeyer, Strategic Account Director at Magnet Forensics, at chris.dinkelmeyer@magnetforensics.com.
NIBIN Correlation Updates
As of December 2, 2024, the default search region for the Onondaga County Center for Forensic Sciences includes:
CONNECTICUT, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DELAWARE, GEORGIA, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK (including previous entries from the Onondaga County Center for Forensic Sciences), OHIO, PENNSLYVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VIRGINIA, FBI – Quantico, VA , VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, ATF – Ammendale, MD Lab, ATF – Atlanta, GA Lab , ATF – Dublin, CA Lab, All ATF Transportable and Mobile Van units
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms may change the automatic correlation regions without notice, therefore contact the Firearms Section supervisor for questions related to search parameters for specific cases (including cases entered prior to current default search region). Correlation results may be provided upon request. Special requests to search against other areas of the United States or Canada may be directed to the Firearms Section supervisor. Agencies are notified of Potential Candidates for Comparison or associations made through microscopic comparisons through a Report of Laboratory Analysis. When applicable, Firearms Section Case Association notifications are also sent to specific law enforcement and/or prosecuting agencies. Images are retained in the database indefinitely and searched regularly according to automatic NIBIN correlation parameters.