Computer forensics is a new and growing specialty that serves both the public and private sectors. Computer forensics specialists are not only competent in software related matters, but in those relating to computer hardware issues as well. Computer forensics comes into play in both ethical and criminal issues, including intellectual property law, theft, and fraud.

Computer forensics follows traditional principles for scientific investigation. Work in computer forensics is systematic, well recorded and documented, and acceptable within a court of law. The methodology of computer forensics follows several steps. The first is to identify sources of digital evidence. The second is to preserve that evidence from loss, change or corruption. The third step is the process is to analyze the evidence, and the fourth is to present the evidence within the context it is required.

A good computer forensic specialist can manage the computer system and the data it contains while protecting sensitive evidence. Computer forensics explores both the individual computer, and any relevant networks or server connections. Computer forensics allows for the discovery of obvious and hidden data, as well as allowing access to password protected, encrypted and otherwise secured data on a computer system. Computer forensics may also allow for the recovery of deleted files.

Industrial applications, the insurance industry, legal professionals, the courts and more rely on computer forensics for many functions, ranging from preventing the spread of illegal materials to avoiding corporate fraud. Computer forensics is a growing field, and one that will continue to provide evidence and insight to prevent growing criminal computer related activity.

You Cannot Hide From Computer Forensics

Advances in computer forensics officers are becoming so rapid that increasingly, it is not possible to hide from detection — especially if you are a criminal or wrongdoer. In the West, so much of daily life is now planned, organized, executed or recorded by advanced technology and online servers that digital traces of one’s actions are often left. Generally, these are recoverable.

Any wrongdoer using the internet for their activity is therefore vulnerable to computer forensics, as they will leave records of visits to websites, or sending of emails, via the IP legend their connection leaves. Even if this number is not registered to their name specifically, their location is traceable, adding to the capabilities of those computer forensics officers who wish to find them or to prove the miscreant’s wrongdoing after the event.

If the user is storing illegal material — such as certain pornographic pictures — on their system, there is also no chance of their escape from discovery by computer forensics. Officers will be able to discern whether there are any hidden sectors to a user’s hard drive, meaning hidden material can be freed. Any attempt to rename illegal files with false extensions is also discoverable, as files leave traces of their original format on the memory. Furthermore, any false excuse that material arrived of its own accord will be in vain — computer forensics officers can detect every use of the ‘save’ function on a computer system. There is simply no way of hiding your true computer activity.