The Crime Of Computer Forensics

Digital forensics is a branch that is over the recovery and investigation of materials found in digital devices, it gives a better understanding of the situation. Back before the computers, researchers used to investigate the situation through eyewitnesses, evidences, and trying to recreate what happened in that area. Digital devices are everywhere this day and age. “Computers and networks have become so ubiquitous in our society, such an integral part of our daily lives, that any investigation or legal dispute will likely involve some form of digital evidence.” Casey, 2009 Introduction. Through electronics, it can store the needed evidence to be used in the future.

Computer forensics are used in many fields, from legalities involving trade secrets to prevention of computer-related fraud; however, more and more computer forensics are being used to help solve crimes of all kinds. Computer forensics have both obvious and less obvious implications in a criminal court and are a helpful new tool for prosecutors and police alike.

For this reason, it is imperative that the information gathered is reliable and accurate to ensure the evidence collected can be utilized by the digital forensic investigator for the current case (Ingalls & Rodriguez, 2011). Additionally, cyber incidents require digital forensic investigators to interview various individuals regarding the information needed for the case. According to the National Institute of Justice (2004), interviewing the system administrator, users, and employees of an organization regarding a cyber incident would provide investigators with valuable information; for example, user accounts, email accounts, network configuration, logs, and passwords. Furthermore, for digital forensic investigators to conduct an effective interview, they must have the proper tools and training to employ the interview process. For instance, formal procedures or instructions should be developed and implemented to ensure that the investigator follows a standard during all investigations. Additionally, training should be provided to ensure that digital forensic investigators comprehend by what means to prepare, conduct, and evaluate an interview. Furthermore, resources should be made available for digital forensic investigators to accomplish their tasks; for example, recording devices and references. Also, definitions should be provided to the digital forensic investigators for

A computer forensic investigation typically includes the collection, examination, analysis, and reporting of data. These steps could have been used to extract and preserve the data in the U.S. versus AOL case. Collection involves seizing digital evidence. Examination is where techniques are applied in order to identify and extract data. Analysis is using the data and resources to prove a case (Brecht, 2015). Reporting involves presenting the documentation gathered during the investigation. Investigators use these steps to examine evidence that could be needed in a trial. Following these steps is one way to ensure that the findings are sound and admissible in court. “The purpose of a computer forensic examination is to recover data from computers seized as evidence in criminal investigations (Brecht, 2015)”. Forensic tools are used by investigators to provide their collection, indexing and detailed analysis

Computer forensics is a new area of crime investigation. However, it is an area of knowledge that is growing at a faster rate. Computer and network forensics investigators are professionals who are mainly trained on various investigation activities related to computer crime. They are trained on how to investigate computer crimes

Supportive investigation procedures and protocols should be in place in order to show that the incriminating evidence was on the electronic media. Crime has changed since the dawning of the computer age and the need for digital forensics is growing rapidly. Digital forensics has various areas based on different standards and media types, each with experts. There have been major breakthroughs in digital forensics

With the advancement of technology it has changed the entire world and with it the criminal justice system. With Technology becoming a part of peoples everyday lives it is to be expected that technology would cross over into the world of crime. New computer crime has escalated in the past 10 years. As with the advancement of crime it has also made advancements in crime fighting aspect of criminal justice, these advances help criminal justice professionals in the community while on duty and during the investigatory stage. The advent of technology in the criminal justice system has not only changed crime and law enforcement but also changed the way criminal investigation is done and the way the legal system interacts with the criminal

One service provided by computer forensics includes electronic discovery. This is where documents, email, intellectual property, trade secrets, copyright issues, databases, internet activity, instant messaging, computer security and network intrusion are all examined and determined what information might be valuable to a case or situation. This area is used when a client has knowledge of what information is on the computer, or other device, and needs help in guiding them

This abundance of sensitive data offers criminals with an even more wide range of openings to profit from stolen information and I.P. (Intellectual property). Also, overseas governments and crime organizations have incorporated hacking as one of their effective criminal tools at their disposal.

Indescribably, technology has entered every aspect of our life and to no surprise has become almost futuristic as it helps define our crime solving abilities. Forensics actually is the fastest growing criminal justice field in America. Seemingly always in the background, forensics is a major part of our criminal justice systems as a whole. Forensic Science has contributed to our world a great deal in multiple ways, and very significant ways. By the close of the 20th century, forensic scientists had a wealth of high-tech tools at their disposal for analyzing evidence from polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for DNA analysis, to digital fingerprinting techniques with computer search capabilities (Stephanie). To start off, Criminal Investigation is the largest and most known form of Forensic Science. Some of the more known areas include Fingerprinting, Ballistics, DNA Identification, Fiber Samples, Computer Animation, and Documentation analysis.

This paper will briefly identify and explain the psychological aspects of digital forensics. It will further examine the role of psychological profiling in digital forensic investigations. Lastly, it will examine the various stresses that digital crime investigations places on the digital forensics investigator.

Processing a crime scene is no easy task. Individuals who are trained to process and analyze these crime scenes cannot just walk into area of interest and commence handling items and taking items of possible implications of the situation. This holds true for a digital forensics investigator as well. Digital forensics investigators are looking for any possible digital evidence within the crime scene, but it’s not as simple as just finding a computer and taking it to the lab. “Digital evidence is information stored or transmitted in binary form that may be relied on in court. It can be found on a computer hard drive, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a CD, and a flash card in a digital camera, among other places” (Digital Evidence and Forensics, 2016). Identifying, preparing for the search, seizing the evidence, documentation, and chain of custody are all critical pieces of ensuring digital evidence is admissible in court.

This paper will help explain the basic understanding of computer forensics. I will also identify five areas in computers and computer application a forensic investigator can look for digital evidence. I will identify three types of criminal investigations that can utilize the services of computer forensic investigators. This paper will help with the understanding of computer forensics.

Criminalization is a social phenomenon, which has haphazardly increased in last few years as Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has become an internal part of our daily lives. Atomic computer users and large corporate companies are increasingly dependent on services provided by ICT. ICT provides wide range of services that are utilized by individual systems as well as enormous database handling companies. For numerous reasons, something is bound to go wrong within the ICT environments which may include an intentional attack on different services provided by an organization. Digital forensics has evolved significantly in the direction of prosecuting such criminals. Making use of freely available information on internet and rapid technological advancements in ICT has contributed to performing easy investigations rather cumbersome.

In a world where technology is increasingly becoming the way of life, it was only a matter of time before crime was no longer just in the streets but happening online as well. Criminals now get a new approach to carry out their crimes with the use of computers. Since technology is more like a murder mystery than catching the bad guy in the act, a new discipline of forensics needed to be put into place. This is known as computer forensics. Forensic science is any science used for the purpose of law. In the case of computer forensics it is “the discipline that combines elements of law and computer science to collect and analyze data from computer systems, networks, wireless communications, and storage devices in a way that is admissible as evidence in a court of law” (U.S. Cert, 2008). Meaning if you do something illegal on the Internet it can be found.