Computer Forensics

Computer Forensics and Data Recovery

Computer forensics and Data Recovery is the science of analyzing a computer system hard disk using forensically sound methods and tools that have been tested and have had publications released such as the Department of Justice, NIST, Homeland Security and other approved forensic associations. The computer examination and analysis strategies might vary from case to case depending upon the evidence that is being attempted to be discovered to establish legal proof of the examination for legal cases. Computer Forensics and Data recovery can be utilized in a wide range of computer system criminal activity or abuse, consisting of but not limited to theft of data, theft of or violation of copyrights, and fraudulence. Computer experts could draw on a collection of approaches for uncovering data that resides in a computer system, and recovering deleted, secured, or damaged file details.

BENEFITS OF PROFESSIONAL Computer system Forensics and Data Recovery
The unbiased computer Forensics professional that helps during a legal case will have experience on a large range of computer and software applications. This is constantly beneficial when your case has hardware and software applications with which this specialist is directly knowledgeable. Key computer components and software application execution is commonly comparable from one technology to an another, in which experience in one application or operating system area is frequently quickly transferable to a brand-new technology in a computer operating system.

Unlike paper proof, computer system evidence can typically exist in numerous types, with earlier variations still easily accessible on a computer system disk. Understanding the possibility of their existence, also alternative formats of the same information can be uncovered. The discovery procedure could be offered well by a knowledgeable specialist recognizing additional opportunities that could be requested as perhaps relevant proof. Moreover, throughout on-site premises assessments, for situations where computer disks are not actually taken or forensically copied (see listed below), the forensics specialist could more quickly identify areas to look, indications to look for, and added information resources for relevant evidence. These could take the form of earlier versions of data documents (eg. memos, spreadsheets) that still exist on the computer’s disk or on backup media, or differently formatted versions of data, either developed or addressed by various other application software programs (eg. data processing, spreadsheet, email, timeline, organizing, or graphic).

Preservation of data from changing is critical in computer forensic examinations. An experienced computer forensics professional will ensure that a subject computer system is carefully handled, documented to ensure that:

1. No feasible evidence is deleted, changed, or otherwise endangered by the procedures used to examine the computer system.
2. No feasible computer virus is presented to a subject computer system throughout the examination process.
3. Extracted and potentially relevant evidence is properly handled and safeguarded from later mechanical or electromagnetic damage.
4. A proceeding chain of custody is developed and kept.
5. Company procedures are documented for each case.
6. Any client-attorney details that is inadvertently discovered during a forensic examination is ethically and legitimately not disclosed.

ACTIONS TAKEN BY COMPUTER SYSTEM FORENSICS SPECIALISTS
The computer forensics professional will certainly take a number of mindful steps to determine and attempt to recover feasible evidence that could existing on a subject computer system:.

• Secures the subject computer system during the forensic examination from any type of possible modification, damage, data corruption, or infection intro.
• Discovers all files on the subject system. This includes existing typical documents, removed yet continuing to be archived documents, concealed data, password-protected documents,.and encrypted files.
• Recovers all (or as much as possible) of discovered deleted files.
• Reveals (to the extent possible) the contents of hidden files as well as temporary or swap files used by both the application programs and the operating system.
• Accesses (if possible and if legally appropriate) the contents of protected or encrypted files.
• Analyzes all possibly relevant data found in special (and typically inaccessible) areas of a disk. This includes but is not limited to what is called ‘unallocated’ space on a disk (currently unused, but possibly the repository of previous data that is relevant evidence), as well as ‘slack’ space in a file (the remnant area at the end of a file, in the last assigned disk cluster, that is unused by current file data, but once again may be a possible site for previously created and relevant evidence).
• Prints out an overall analysis of the subject computer system, as well as a listing of all possibly relevant files and discovered file data. Further, provides an opinion of the system layout, the file structures discovered, any discovered data and authorship information, any attempts to hide, delete, protect, encrypt information, and anything else that has been discovered and appears to be relevant to the overall computer system examination.
• Provides expert consultation and/or testimony, as required.

WHO CAN USE COMPUTER FORENSIC EVIDENCE?
Many types of criminal and civil proceedings can and do make use of evidence revealed by computer forensics specialists:

• Criminal Prosecutors use computer evidence in a variety of crimes where incriminating documents can be found: homicides, financial fraud, drug and embezzlement record-keeping, and child pornography.
• Civil litigations can readily make use of personal and business records found on computer systems that bear on: fraud, divorce, discrimination, and harassment cases.
• Insurance Companies may be able to mitigate costs by using discovered computer evidence of possible fraud in accident, arson, and workman’s compensation cases.
• Corporations often hire computer forensics specialists to ascertain evidence relating to: sexual harassment, embezzlement, theft or misappropriation of trade secrets and other internal/confidential information.
• Law Enforcement Officials frequently require assistance in pre-search warrant preparations and post-seizure handling of the computer equipment.
• Individuals sometimes hire computer forensics specialists in support of possible claims of: wrongful termination, sexual harassment, or age discrimination.