Introduction
Like most places in America today, Computer Forensics has also
become a hot topic in Tallahassee, Florida. With computer crimes steadily
rising in the area, law enforcement officials are focused on improving Computer Forensic techniques to combat the malicious activities of perpetrators. Computer
Forensics is not only about recovering information from a computer system or
mobile device. It cannot be achieved by simply using software and most
essentially, it is not a procedure that can be carried out by the average tech
savvy person. Computer Forensics is a science with specific principles and
techniques related to the art of identifying, analysing and presenting digital evidence andit was first introduced in the late 1980s by the U.S. federal law
enforcement agency.
Defining Computer Forensics:
• Collecting and examining digital data, accurately, authentically and completely for investigation purposes to be presented in a civil court of law as evidence.
• Digital evidence refers to any and all information stored on a computer system that suggests that the user was involved in criminal activities and can be utilized to establish a link with the victim of the crime committed.
Historical Overview of Computer Forensics
Computer Forensics involves the utilization of specific computer analysis and investigation methods in order to acquire possible legal evidence. Digital evidence plays a vital role in investigations for crimes such as identity theft, child pornography, hacking, and the damage of intellectual property among others. Computer Forensicscan utilize a variety of techniques to trace and recover information that is damaged, encrypted or deleted from a computer system. This evidence can be used for the capture and conviction of a person committing computer crimes.
The Computer Forensic industry has experienced many changes since its introduction. Technology that was once nonexistent is now playing a major role in computer crime investigations today. What will investigators use to solve computer crimes tomorrow? There is no definite answer to this question. The one thing we can be certain of is that there will always be “change”. As technology becomes more advanced, so do Computer Forensics tools and techniques as well.
The definition of Computer Forensics has been altered many times in the past. During the 1980s law enforcement officials defined it as the examination of standalone computer systems to obtain digital evidence for legal purposes. Today, this definition only covers the analysis stage involved in Computer Forensics. Computer systems today are more networked than before; therefore Computer Forensics has evolved in order to address these changes. Many have suggested that Forensic Computing is a more suitable term considering the fact that digital evidence can also be captured from cameras and other electronic devices. However, regardless of the name, one thing for sure is that its significance will never change.
Traditional methods of investigation focused solely on shielding computer systems from malicious attacks before they invade the system. There are many newly developed systems today with the ability to detect and combat these malicious attacks; however, little effort is put into developing systems to deal with the after effect of an unexpected attack. This is mainly because many business owners prefer to accept the losses rather than jeopardize their reputations by revealing their vulnerability to these attacks and lack of security. While, many organizations today are now realizing that it is better to confront these criminals and bring them to justice, there are many other factors affecting Computer Forensics in today’s modern society.
Challenges Facing Tallahassee Computer Forensics
• Conducting forensic investigations and e-discovery analysis on large volumes of data can be overly time consuming and difficult. While large organizations are usually willing to stand the cost, small companies may find it difficult to allocate the resources necessary to source these services.
• Computer Forensic experts are often times called at the scene of the crime long after the incident has occurred. This usually results in the damage or loss of information that is vital to the investigation. This can impact the overall cost, duration, accuracy and result of the investigation. The nature of digital evidence makes it significantly fragile. Information can be easily erased or altered and may be difficult to trace or detect. For these reasons it is always best to contact a forensics expert once you become aware of the crime.
• Computer Forensics is very complex and requires a wide array of skills and sufficient experience. Because it is not a licensed profession, many untrained individuals today are claiming to be expert in the field. As a result, many companies end up investing in investigators that are unable to provide them with information that is useful in a court of law. An untrained investigator may also experience difficulties communicating the findings of the investigation. In some cases, this can result in a sanction being served in a civil court.
• Digital evidence is usually measured in terabytes and gigabytes in large investigations. In these instances, the search has to be narrowed to conserve on time reduce the overall expense. A highly skilled and experienced investigator is usually more suitable for an investigation of this magnitude to avoid losses and damage to vital information.
• Many organizations today utilize their internal IT staff to carry out Computer Forensics investigation. The internal IT staff may not possess the required expertise necessary to carry out proper Computer Forensic investigations. This is to ensure that there is proper handling of the collected evidence and accuracy in the investigation.
Despite these challenges, Tallahassee Computer Forensics offers a myriad of opportunities that give organizations the ability to overcome computer crimes. In any legal situation where digital evidence is involved, a Computer Forensic investigation is essential. Digital evidence has to be carefully collected and preservedby following strategic techniques to avoid damage and ensure that it is admissible in court.
Organizations are urged to seek the services of professional Computer Forensic specialists to ensure that adequate evidence is collected. An expert Computer Forensic specialist will know:
• Where to acquire relevant evidence necessary for the investigation.
• How to retrieve the evidence without altering the original content
• How to preserve digital evidence to ensure that it is admissible in court.
Although the process of Computer Forensics may be time consuming and costly, depending on the magnitude of the investigation, the overall effect of not carrying out an efficient investigation can be disastrous to the future or the organization in many ways:
• By conducting a proper Computer Forensics investigation an organization is able to identify all vulnerabilities in their IT system that led them to become victims of computer crimes. If the criminal is not brought to justice he/she may continue to carry out malicious attacks against the organization.
• Breach of customers’ confidential information in the form of files, emails and other private datacan result in civil lawsuits and additional expenses that can drain the organization’s resources. Banks and other organizations that depend on client confidentiality to maintain balance can benefit significantly from using Computer Forensics to safeguard intellectual properties.
With 93% of businesses today storing important information electronically, the need for a solid system that enables them to detect and prevent the malicious actions of cyber criminals is more important now more than ever. The role of Computer Forensic specialists in today’s society is to help business combat the actions of cyber criminals.
The core principles of Computer Forensics are very straightforward: to identify, extract, analyze, preserve and present data needed for a criminal investigation to protect an organization’s interests. It is evident that technology and the internet will play a vital role in the business industry for many more years to come. Law firms, banks, and retailers depend on these technologies to communicate, enhance productivity and minimize their overall expense. The Computer Forensics industry will continue to strive to maintain pace with technology advancements that can contribute to an increase in cybercrimes. Cyber predators are constantly on the hunt for opportunities to manipulate innocent people at any moment. Do not let computer crimes ruin you or your business. Look to Computer Forensics for help! Some crimes that can be solved using Computer Forensics are:
• Hacking
• viruses
• Identity Theft
• Espionage
• Intellectual Property Damage
• Child Pornography
• Unauthorized Access
• Fraud
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