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December 22, 2025 93 mins

Si and Desi close out the year on the Forensic Focus Podcast with a wide-ranging end-of-2025 wrap-up, reflecting on how the year unfolded for the show and the DFIR community. They discuss the mental health series, guest appearances, and how everyday technologies — from streaming services to wearables — are increasingly intersecting with forensic investigations, even when people don't realise it.

The conversation then broadens to bigger technology shifts, including the rapid rise of AI and its legal, ethical, and societal implications. Si and Desi explore bias, misinformation, validation, and why human oversight still matters, before turning to the resurgence of operating system "wars," Apple's growing market share, Linux's expanding presence, and what changing user behaviour could mean for digital forensics in the years ahead.

#DigitalForensics #DFIR #ForensicFocusPodcast #AI #Wearables #Linux #Apple

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⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Welcome to the Forensic Focus Podcast

00:33 Reflecting on the Year 2025

01:32 Challenges and Changes in 2025

02:09 Mental Health Series and Guest Appearances

04:51 Streaming Services and TV Licenses

09:27 Wearable Technology and Forensics

18:11 AI in Legal and Ethical Contexts

44:20 AI's Inevitable Rise

44:37 The Resurgence of Operating System Wars

45:19 Apple's Growing Market Share

46:31 Linux's Increasing Presence

53:14 Challenges for Linux Adoption

01:02:31 The Shift to Mobile and Tablet Usage

01:14:49 AI-Generated Content and Its Implications

01:21:50 Reflections on Free Speech and AI

01:27:57 Looking Ahead to the Future

🎧 Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/si-and-desis-holiday-special-2025/

📝 Show Notes

Forensic Focus Podcasts - https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast

Forensic Focus Jobs Board - https://www.forensicfocus.com/jobs

'The old-school landline is having a cultural moment', ABC - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-16/landline-rotary-phone-social-media-ban-family-connect/106010638

'Judges have become 'human filters' as AI in Australian courts reaches 'unsustainable phase', chief justice says', The Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov/21/judges-have-become-human-filters-as-ai-in-australian-courts-reaches-unsustainable-phase-chief-justice-says

'Founder Admits His "AI Transcription" Startup Was Just Him Joining People's Meetings and Taking Notes by Hand', Futurism - https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/fireflies-founder-startup-ai

'Man Alarmed to Discover His Smart Vacuum Was Broadcasting a Secret Map of His House', Futurism - https://futurism.com/robots-and-machines/robot-vacuum-broadcasting

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