National Media Outlets Hire Ontrack to Investigate Alleged GOP ``War Room'' Computers

Business Wire,  August 1, 2001  

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Business Editors/Technology & Government Writers

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 1, 2001

Electronic Discovery Specialists to Inspect Hard Drives Used During

Presidential Election Vote Recount

A group of news organizations has retained ONTRACK Data International, Inc. (Nasdaq:ONDI) to perform computer forensics work on two hard drives used in what has been alleged to be the GOP "war-room" during the time of the Florida recount of votes in the presidential election last November.

Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris reversed her decision not to allow reporters to inspect the computer records, and work performed by Ontrack will attempt to reveal the hard drive contents to a group of more than 12 news organizations under what is commonly known as Florida's "Government in the Sunshine" law. Based on a recommendation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the news organizations contracted with Ontrack(R) DataTrail(TM) electronic discovery services to provide an impartial evaluation of the hard drives in question.

Under the agreement, Ontrack DataTrail consultants will capture and perform a full forensic analysis on the two mirror images of the drives based on the specifications provided by the group of news organizations. Typical computer forensic activity includes determining whether or not information has been deleted, as well as reviewing the times and dates of file modifications for details about formatting attempts. Provided the mirror image is created from a drive not subject to significant reformatting, Ontrack's proprietary tools will likely help to recreate specific chain of events and user activity - including Internet and email communication - from the recovery of any data left, as well as any data "deleted."

"In this project, our work is very straightforward," stated Jennifer Zeller, director of Ontrack's DataTrail division. "We will make a mirror copy of the drives, analyze the data based on the specifications we receive from the newspapers and provide them with the data in a readable format."

Zeller added, "Ontrack has the tools and expertise to perform computer forensic and electronic discovery projects, including strict chain-of-custody practices, proprietary software tools to aid in the discovery process, as well as legal consultants experienced in the use of electronic documents as evidence."

"This is a complex issue that most journalists are not trained for," stated Joe Follick, a reporter in the Tampa Tribune's Tallahassee bureau. "Ontrack's full-service efforts will make it easier for us to discern the full story."

The Group of news organizations that have hired Ontrack include The New York Times, The Tampa Tribune, The St. Petersburg Times, The Miami Herald, The Orlando Sentinel, The South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Florida Times - Union, The Associated Press, Gannett Newspapers, Tallahassee Democrat, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News- Journal.

About Ontrack

Ontrack provides data availability software and service solutions, helping customers protect, manage, recover and discover their valuable data. Using its hundreds of proprietary tools and techniques, Ontrack can recover lost or corrupted data from virtually all operating systems and types of storage devices through its do-it-yourself, remote and in-lab capabilities. Ontrack DataTrail(TM) electronic discovery solutions helps companies, law firms and federal agencies quickly and cost-effectively recover electronic information for use in legal matters. Ontrack also offers award-winning PC utility software programs and services to help prevent critical data loss through a broad line of problem-solving, file-management and productivity utilities. Ontrack can be reached through its World Wide Web site at http://www.ontrack.com or by calling 800-872-2599. In addition to its Minneapolis headquarters, Ontrack operates other locations in Los Angeles, Boulder, CO., Washington D.C., New York, London, Paris and Stuttgart. Ontrack also makes its data recovery services available in Tokyo through its strategic alliance with Y-E Data, a company with over 25 years of experience in storage devices.

ONTRACK and Ontrack brand and product names used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of ONTRACK Data International, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other brands or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

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