Boca Raton Computer Forensics: A Brief Overview

There are many famous criminal cases in American history where Computer Forensics played a significant role in the capture and conviction of notorious criminals. Computer Forensics played a vital role in the 9/11 investigation, Wall Street bombing in 1920, Anthrax investigation and even in the spectacular manhunt for the famous Bonnie and Clyde. Mankind has witness a tremendous evolution in technology throughout the years; the advent of the internet, computers and other electronic devices has altered the way businesses operate, allowing for increased efficiency and productivity. However, this advancement in technology also had a dark side, where people used it to maliciously attack individuals.

Crimes that are committedusing computers and other forms of technology cover a broad platform. This includes terrorism (for example 9/11), identity theft, fraud, hacking, phishing and a wide range of other criminal activities. Computer Forensics has made it possible for us to identify, extract and analyze digital evidence that is necessary to capture cyber criminals.

The view that computer crimes came into existence ever since the first production of computers, has always been a topic of great controversy. However, with cybercrime increasing as technology advances, it is obvious that one is fueled by the other. Digital evidence plays a major role in the capture and conviction of criminals today. If properly acquired, evidence derived from computer systems can be used in a civil court against a person suspected of committing a crime. However, unlike other evidence, digital evidence has to be accurate, authentic, complete and in adherence to specific legislative guidelines. Preview the video to get a brief idea of what computer forensic is. 

Cybercrimes

Computers have infiltrated every industry today and as a result Computer Forensics has become a top priority for many organizations. Prosecutors utilize digital evidence in numerous ways for a variety of criminal investigations in which incriminating data is available. In criminal investigations involvinghomicide, child pornography, fraud and drugs, many prosecutors seek the assistance of Computer Forensic specialists to acquire digital evidence that can be used in court. Time and again large organizations will hire a Computer Forensics expert to locate evidence when issues involving theft, embezzlement and leak of confidential information arise. Members of staff can also hire a forensics expert to challenge a specific corporation in court. In the past, many employees have utilized Computer Forensics to gather evidence on racial discrimination, prejudices and sexual harassment within the work place. In situations where evidence is found, it can be presented in a civil court against the organization.

Cyber criminals can penetrate a company’s IT infrastructure on several platforms. Although most businesses will implant some form of defensive system to protect them from malicious intrusions, cybercriminals have many different methods of gaining entrance to a system. Hacking is one of the most popular forms of computer crime in which criminals use specific tools to breach a company’s IT security system. This can lead to personal identification information, credit card information and confidential information being put in the hands of the wrong person. When cases like these develop, the services of a Computer Forensics specialist is needed to gather substantial evidence for the capture and conviction of the perpetrator.

Cyber criminals can utilize a computer system in two different ways to carry out malicious activities. A vast majority of computer crimes today are conducted by just one person or a small group of people. Cybercriminal groups often share tools and strategies and may even join forces to launch an attack against an organization. There are many illegal markets today where computer criminals can trade information that has been stolen for huge sums of money.  As a result many people are being influenced to join in on these malicious activities.

With the prevalence of technology today, it’s almost impossible to crack down on all cybercriminals. In addition, the internet has made it possible so that people to operate anonymously from different locations worldwide. Most cybercriminals prefer to hack computer systems that are located to minimize the chances of them being captured. Computer crimes may vary in every country; therefore it is often difficult to punish perpetrators. Nonetheless, Boca Raton Computer Forensics allows us to identify weaknesses in the IT infrastructure of businesses in the area so that we can prevent these incidents.

A Closer Look at Computer Forensics

Computer Forensics involves the detection, collection, analysis and preservation of data located in computer systems that can be presented as evidence in a civil court. Computer Forensics experts use a variety of tools to acquire and prepare digital evidence to ensure that it is admissible in court. Below you can find the basic steps in a Computer Forensics Investigation.

Detection: During the initial stage of a Computer Forensics investigation, the investigator has to follow specific techniques to detect where the evidence relevant to the investigation is located. Computers are not the only source of digital evidence; mobile devices, videogame consoles, portal USB and other electronic medium can hold digital evidence.

Collection: After the investigator has detected where the evidence is located he/she then has to follow a specific set of guidelines and use specialized tools to collect the evidence without altering its original content. One of the most popular methods used to collect digital evidence in cyber investigations today is to use imaging software to capture multiple images of different areas of the drive.

Analysis: Following the collection of the evidence the investigator will decide what method of analysis is suitable depending on the nature of the investigation and where the evidence was located. One main objective of the analysis is to establish a timeline of events that occurred prior to the incident. The analysis should be accurate, detailed and impartial and all findings have to be recorded.

Preservation: This refers to one of the most significant stages in a Computer Forensics investigation. Simple actions such as carelessly opening a file can alter the original content and disintegrate the integrity of the evidence discovered making it inadmissible in court. The investigator has to handle all evidence with the utmost care to ensure preservation. A detailed report of the findings has to be presented in which includes all information that is relevant to the investigation.

To properly carry out a Boca Raton Computer Forensics investigation, investigators have to be patient, dedicated and meticulous. To preserve evidence investigators have to be very careful to ensure that all guidelines are followed without disturbances. Sadly there are still many factors today affecting the performance of Computer Forensics experts.

Factors Affecting Computer Forensics

The factors affecting the performance of Computer Forensics investigators today can be categorized as follows:

Technical Factors

Technological Advancement: As technology evolves, new software, hardware and operating systems are being introduced. Therefore, Computer Forensics investigators are always encountering new technology that they may not be familiar with. In these situations, the investigator will have to conduct various test and examinations that can be time consuming to avoid errors in the investigation.

Enormous Volumes of Data: Storage devices available today can store enormous volumes of data which means that investigators have to invest adequate time and power in order to efficiently collect, analyze and preserve evidence relevant to the investigation.

Encryption: Many investigators experience difficulties handling encrypted files especially if they do not have an accurate password. In most cases the password is stored elsewhere in a secured section on the computer. It is almost impossible to access files that are properly encrypted without a password. After the computer system has shut down it may be impossible for the investigator to collect the evidence, therefore, in most cases a live acquisition has to be carried out. This involves running a small program on the computer to duplicate the evidence. In doing so, the investigator will make changes to the original state of the computer and will have to present a detail record of the process in court so that the the evidence canbe admissible.

Anti-Forensics Practices: This involves encryption, over-writing of information and various other practices that are geared towards thwarting Computer Forensics analysis by making data unrecoverable.

Legal Factors: In some cases lawyers will try to dispute evidence brought forth my Computer Forensics Specialists in court. One of the most common arguments is that a Trojan is responsible for the actions carried out on the computer which led to the crime. When this happens the investigator has to provide evidence to prove that there was no trace of Trojan activities on the system. 

Tallahassee Computer Forensics: The Next Hot Topic

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