Computer Forensics
Computer forensics is the process of using the latest knowledge of science and technology with computer sciences to collect, analyze and present proofs to the criminal or civil courts. Network administrator and security staff administer and manage networks and information systems should have complete knowledge of computer forensics. The meaning of the word “forensics” is “to bring to the court”. Forensics is the process which deals in finding evidence and recovering the data. The evidence includes many forms such as finger prints, DNA test or complete files on computer hard drives etc. The consistency and standardization of computer forensics across courts is not recognized strongly because it is new discipline.
It is necessary for network administrator and security staff of networked organizations to practice computer forensics and should have knowledge of laws because rate of cyber crimes is increasing greatly. It is very interesting for mangers and personnel who want to know how computer forensics can become a strategic element of their organization security. Personnel, security staff and network administrator should know all the issues related to computer forensics. Computer experts use advanced tools and techniques to recover deleted, damaged or corrupt data and evidence against attacks and intrusions.
These evidences are collected to follow cases in criminal and civil courts against those culprits who committed computer crimes. The survivability and integrity of network infrastructure of any organization depends on the application of computer forensics. In the current situations computer forensics should be taken as the basic element of computer and network security. It would be a great advantage for your company if you know all the technical and legal aspects of computer forensics. If your network is attacked and intruder is caught then good knowledge about computer forensics will help to provide evidence and prosecute the case in the court.
There are many risks if you practice computer forensics badly. If you don’t take it in account then vital evidence might be destroyed. New laws are being developed to protect customers’ data; but if certain kind of data is not properly protected then many liabilities can be assigned to the organization. New rules can bring organizations in criminal or civil courts if the organizations fail to protect customer data. Organization money can also be saved by applying computer forensics. Some mangers and personnel spent a large portion of their IT budget for network and computer security. It is reported by International Data Corporation (IDC) that software for vulnerability assessment and intrusion detection will approach $1.45 billion in 2006.
As organizations are increasing in number and the risk of hackers and contractors is also increase so they have developed their own security systems. Organizations have developed security devices for their network like intrusions detection systems (IDS), proxies, firewalls which report on the security status of network of an organization. So technically the major goal of computer forensics is to recognize, gather, protect and examine data in such a way that protects the integrity of the collected evidence to use it efficiently and effectively in a case.
Investigation of computer forensics has some typical aspects. In first area computer experts who investigate computers should know the type of evidence they are looking for to make their search effective. Computer crimes are wide in range such as child pornography, theft of personal data and destruction of data or computer.
Second, computer experts or investigators should use suitable tools. The investigators should have good knowledge of software, latest techniques and methods to recover the deleted, encrypted or damaged files and prevent further damage in the process of recovery.
In computer forensics two kinds of data are collected. Persistent data is stored on local disk drives or on other media and is protected when the computer is powered off or turned off. Volatile data is stored in random access memory and is lost when the computer is turned off or loses power. Volatile data is located in caches, random access memory (RAM) and registers. Computer expert or investigator should know trusted ways to capture volatile data. Security staff and network administrators should have knowledge about network and computer administration task effects on computer forensics process and the ability to recover data lost in a security incident.
Radha Kishan -
About the Author:
Radha Kishan is currently advertising for www.cyberevidence.com/
Computer Forensics Investigation
Computer Forensics Investigation
What is computer forensics investigation? How can it help solve crimes?
The news in the broadsheets, television, and radio about various crimes such as murder, holdup, thieving, and the likes are no longer new to us. Crimes happen here and there. We can’t say that we can’t fall as the next victims. In the past years, computer forensic investigation had earned a remarkable commendation particularly in line with solving crimes.
The then Enron scandal signaled the start of the glories of computer forensics. To date, a lot of intelligence, law enforcement, military, and business agencies rely on this field in the hope of speeding up the process of solving any malicious scandal done to other individuals or within the firms themselves.
Computer forensics is the scientific study that deals with computers and the related facts in connection with an investigation done by any law enforcement firm for the purpose of presenting the evidences in the court. This branch of study has existed for an innumerable number of decades and perhaps it is of the same age with the presence of computers.
However, thanks to the advantages in the modern technology because computer forensics investigation is placed onto a much higher level. Revisions and upgrades are constantly applied to the field of computer forensics.
Old Time Computer Forensics at a Glance
In the past years when technology was not yet that modern, computer forensics was much known for data dumps. The procedure was too hard and slow because all of the keystrokes were to be printed out in eight digits. However, those digits were all zeroes and then ones. The materials used in printing out the data were cases of paper.
Needless to say, the systems analysts were required to convert the information into hex and then to translate their values into the actual information keystroke. The entire procedure permitted the investigators to go through all of the information at hand and specify at which point did the program and the computer system packed up.
In the olden days, computer forensics had gone through a variety of ups and downs. But of course, it is important to note that those are the things of the past. Nowadays, the said field has a brighter future ahead of it. In fact, computer forensics investigation is the known way of providing an in-depth examination to solve series of crimes and other deceitful actions.
Indeed, the computer language still ranges from the zeros to ones or those hex and binary but these days, everything is already being upgraded. The same thing goes around with the process of computer forensics investigation. The developers of the tools are keeping up with the competition. For now, computer forensics investigators are able to retrieve any wiped off data.
These specialists are the people who are capable of reconstructing the lost data either they have been intentionally or accidentally erased from the computer’s hard drive. They are moreover overly familiar with the science of computer forensics and the construction of digital technology.
Computer forensics investigation digs deeper into all electronic files. You can trust the investigators to collect and examine the data from the emails, chat histories, and other communications done using the computer.
The military, law enforcement, and other intelligence companies are making use of this field in uncovering whatever evidence may be used to file for a legal action before the court of law. This is very significant especially now that many crimes remain unsolved.