U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Funding & Awards
 FileTSAR+  An Elastic Network Forensic Toolkit for Law Enforcement
Award Information
Awardee
              PURDUE UNIVERSITY
Award #
              2020-DQ-BX-0008
Funding Category
              Competitive Discretionary
Location
                    WEST LAFAYETTE, IN
Congressional District
              4
Status
              Past Project Period End Date
Funding First Awarded
              2020
Total funding (to date)
              $400,973
Original Solicitation
              Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes, Fiscal Year 2020
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2020, $400,973)
While there are several well-known and reputable commercial products for capturing and analyzing evidence that originates from computers, there are too few complete tools of the same caliber for network forensics. In addition, the rapid rise in technology has led to data overflow and the Big Data problem. In response to this problem, the National Institute of Justice requested proposals through the Developing Improved Means to Collect Digital Evidence program (NIJ-2016-8976) to develop innovative tools to Process large-scale computer networks for digital evidence in a forensically sound manner that preserves the probative value of the evidence that the computer network may contain. This research team was awarded a grant to develop the Toolkit for Selective Analysis and Reconstruction of Files (File TSAR) for the analysis and reconstruction of files from large-scale computer networks (more than 5,000 computers).
The success of File TSAR attracted law enforcement agencies of different sizes from around the world. Many are eager to deploy the toolkits in their own IT infrastructure. However, the original goal of File TSAR was to capture network traffic and restore digital evidence, in its original file format, in large enterprise network settings. As such, File TSAR requires high-performance storage units and assumes high-performance servers or workstations available on premise within the law enforcement agency in which it is deployed.
Therefore, in order to serve law enforcement agencies of all sizes, we propose the creation of File TSAR+ as a complement to File TSAR. This elastic version of File TSAR will benefit state and local law enforcement agencies that have storage, budget, and back-end support limitations. The validity of File TSAR+ will be assessed by certified digital forensic examiners from the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) and the Tippecanoe High Tech Crime Unit. In addition, the Science Gateway Community Institute (SGCI) funded by the National Science Foundation will provide free consultation for the user experience interface of File TSAR+.
File TSAR+ will operationally impact law enforcement by allowing smaller agencies to more effectively investigate cases that involve digital evidence from networks. We will create meaningful deliverables, including online training modules and scholarly products, to help disseminate File TSAR+ for free to any law enforcement agency worldwide. Note: This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law, and complies with Part 200 Uniform Requirements - 2 CFR 200.210(a)(14). CA/NCF

  
Date Created: October 22, 2020
    
          Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              Current Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Forthcoming Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Expired Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
    
      
            
            
            
      Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
    
      
            
            
            
      Fellowship & Student Programs
    
      
            
            
            
      Travel Scholarships
    
      
            
            
            
      NIJ Challenge ProgramSimilar Awards
        
                      Quantifying the accuracy of low quality DNA sample analysis from genotyping to genealogical searching and integration as a bioinformatic pipeline
                  Accuracy, Efficacy, and Reproducibility of Muzzle-to-Target Distance Determination using Gunshot Residue
                  Comprehensive Evaluation of Kinetic and Thermodynamic Approaches to Predict Evaporation of Ignitable Liquids for Fire Debris Applications
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov