Categorizing media manually

You can manually categorize or grade artifacts in AXIOM Examine in the Media explorer, in addition to automatically categorizing pictures and videos using hash sets. You can quickly grade images and videos using keyboard shortcuts and bulk categorization options. When you categorize a picture or video, AXIOM Examine automatically applies the same media category to any other media items in the case with a matching MD5 or SHA1 hash.

If you haven't previously configured a media categorization list, AXIOM Examine prompts you to choose one. You can choose pre-set media categorization profiles for Canada (Project VIC), International (Project VIC), the United States (Project VIC), and the United Kingdom (CAID) or you can add a new list or import a list of media categories. Pre-set media categorization profiles are automatically configured to include the categories, names, colors, and illegal status for media items specific to the organization or region.

When you begin categorizing media in the Media explorer, you can view your progress in the Media categorization progress bar. The progress bar displays the number of media items that have been categorized (by you or by hash sets) in each category and the number of uncategorized items.

You can reduce your exposure to illicit content while categorizing media by blurring or hiding media items in illegal categories, muting the sound in videos by default, and setting reminders to stop categorizing media after a period of time or after you've categorized a specified number of items.

Apply a media category to a picture or video

When you begin categorizing media in the Media explorer, you can view your progress in the Media categorization progress bar. The progress bar displays the number of media items that have been categorized (by you or by hash sets) in each category and the number of uncategorized items.

Tip: Before you begin categorizing media, set up your reminder and media obfuscation options to reduce your exposure to illicit media content.

  1. In AXIOM Examine, open the Media explorer.
  2. Optionally, in the Media categorization progress bar, start the media categorization timer or configure the categorization goal for the case.
  3. Select the pictures or videos you want to apply a media category to.
  4. In Media categories, click the media category you want to apply, or press the keyboard shortcut (0-9) for the media category you want to apply.
  5. Repeat Steps 4-5 for any other pictures and videos you want to categorize.

Apply a media category to uncategorized pictures or videos

You can quickly apply a media category to all uncategorized pictures or videos that are currently visible in the Media explorer. After you apply a category to all uncategorized media, AXIOM Examine automatically displays the next set of uncategorized evidence so that you can continue to applying media categories.

  1. In AXIOM Examine, open the Media explorer.
  2. In Media categories, in the Set all visible uncategorized pictures to drop-down, select a media category.
  3. Click Categorize or press the PLUS SIGN (+).

Update hash sets with media categorizations from a case

After you manually categorize pictures and videos in your case, you can add reviewer graded media back to your hash sets in the Magnet AXIOM hash database for use with future cases. The next time you create a case in AXIOM Process and search the evidence using these updated hash sets, AXIOM Process will automatically search and categorize evidence with matching hashes for you.

  1. In AXIOM Examine, on the Process menu, click Update hash set with new media categorizations.
  2. In Step 1: Select a hash set to update, complete one of the following options:
    • To add the hash list to an existing hash set, select the hash set you want to update.
    • To add the hash list to a new hash set, click Add new hash set. Provide a name for the hash set and click Add.
  3. In Step 2: Select the categories to update in the hash set, select the categories you want to update in the hash set and click Update hash set.
  4. When you've finished updating your hash sets, click Close.

Recategorize media files in your case

If you categorized your media for Project VIC using a third-party tool, you can import the .json files to apply those categorizations to the media in your case after initial processing.

  1. In AXIOM Examine, on the Process menu, click Categorize pictures and videos by hash value.
  2. When AXIOM Process opens, browse to Processing details > Categorize pictures and videos.
  3. In Categorize pictures and videos by hash value, click Add file.
  4. Browse to the location where you saved the .json file and click Open.
  5. If applicable, clear the Enabled option next to any previously imported .json files that you don't want to use for this search.
  6. Click Analyze evidence.