Effective Role of Computer Forensics in Investigations

The field of Criminal & Civil investigation has taken a turn towards precision with the advent of Forensic sciences. The authenticity of untainted forensically procured evidence has made it an essential element of investigation in recent times.

Blending in traditional investigative methodologies with forensic analysis and technology has proved to be a concrete scheme for gathering accurate evidence and drawing the perfect conclusion. Of all forensic sciences, Computer Forensics has proved to be the universal method aiding the study of all types of cases globally.

Computer forensics is a branch of digital forensic science which serves as a source of legal evidence found on computers and digital storage media. It aids the investigation of both criminal & civil proceedings by helping obtain vital information and gathering proofs & evidence. Key information found on computers, laptops, tablets, hard drives, flash drives, servers and other digital storage media are identified, recovered & organized to be presented as veritable evidence in a court of Law with the help of digital forensic examination.

Although this branch of forensic science has been generalized as a method of evidence recovery, it serves diverse purposes. The computer forensic experts better known as forensic analysts are specialized in electronics recovery, data recovery & analysis, tracing & monitoring online activity, tracing online transactions, investigating data theft, expertise in recognizing Steganography, determining unauthorized access (Hacking),  dealing with serious cyber crimes and generating detailed reports acceptable in a court of Law.

Some of the major services offered by computer forensic analysis can be outlined here:

Evidence/ Data Recovery

Finding tangible evidence through traditional investigative techniques has become limited to crime scene discoveries and certain paperwork. However most of the data, be it corporate secrets, illegal/ illicit files, deleted emails, chats, internet usage, work documents, encrypted data or vital information, all find their way into computer hard drives or digital storage media devices like mp3 players, USB sticks, SD cards etc. The discovery, acquisition, recovery and preservation of evidence are the basic use of digital forensics.

Tracking Online/ Digital Activity

Authenticating & tracking emails, online transactions, social media activities, web-mails, email metadata and making sure that the messages or the transactions have not been tampered with or forged is an important achievement in the field of computer forensics. It helps map the activities and correlate events so as to verify or nullify statements.

Recovering data from online servers has also proved to be an efficient technique for accurate presentation of facts. Tracking recent computer activities like – web history, recently opened windows in operating systems, insertion of external storage & media like flash & hard drives are services which have improved the chances of accuracy & faster analysis in the investigation process.

Correlation of Evidence & Data

Regarding digital forensic analysis simply as a source of evidence is a common error. The extent of the services offered by this field includes correlation of events by finding dates of recent activities & data manipulations, discovering recipient & sender of messages and thus facilitates in tracing a map of events, movements, entities & flow of data. It helps integrate a large amount of database and draw relevant conclusions.

Catering to Wide Variety of Cases

Computer forensic analysis finds application in a wide range of complicated cases concerning both criminal & civil proceedings. It helps in amassing vital information, sketch fraudulent transactions, discover  data theft related to White Collar Crimes like Insurance, Tax, Bank, Health Care Frauds, Securities Fraud, Intellectual Property Theft, Patent Infringement, Public Corruption and Bribery. It also aids in uncovering facts & truth related to serious criminal offense like child pornography, homicide & sex crimes.

Because of the insight provided by digital forensic analysis, it is not only considered as an aid to investigations but also assists in effective representation of defendants through expert witness testimony.

Since this field is both an art & science, even with latest tools & high end technology it requires the expertise of forensic analysts who are experienced in handling wide range of tools, hardware & software and also are efficient in drawing relevant conclusions from gathered facts.

Only the unique art of treating each case differently, experience in a wide range of cases combined with analytical skill in digital forensic sciences will yield the best results. One such organization known to provide perfect resolution to each legal proceeding is ICFECI (Institute of Forensic Examination & Criminal Investigations). It operates within the principles of professional specialization and has achieved a vast experience in digital forensic analysis. It diligently works on both criminal & civil investigations and also helps in effective representation of defendants.

ICFECI is identified for researching in this field and developing new techniques to procure forensic evidence in a state of the art lab, housed in Northern District of Texas and thus provides perfect resolution to a variety of cases.