Computer forensics, also known as digital forensics is the application of computer investigation and analysis techniques (which includes data recovery) and is often followed up with expert witness testimony in court. Evidence might be sought in a wide range of computer crime or misuse, like theft of trade secrets, theft, or destruction of intellectual property, and fraud.
As the Global Village changes, increasingly more aspects of our lives involve some or other kind of computer. And one thing mankind can rely on as sure as the sun rises in the east, is that as soon as a new device is designed, someone will find some way to “crack” it or to access it illegally or to use it for their own purposes. This is where computer forensics experts step into crime scene investigations.
Top Ten Unusual Computer Forensic Cases
Adrian Palmer, Managing director of a company called Computer Forensics has identified what he regards as the Top Ten Most Unusual Computer Forensics Cases. Although Mr Palmer may be a little fond of alliteration in the naming of his cases, they are very interesting and certainly worth a read,
- Hot Hard Drives
- Keystroke Calamity
- Scamming Stopped
- Cracking Encrypted CDs
- Pivotal Palm Pilot Passwords
- Sinking Ships
- Usurping USB Drives
- Email Evidence Exposes
- Preservation Protocol
- Diary Discrimination Debacle
Steve Burgess, a Founder of the Data Recovery Industry
According to his website, Steve Burgess was a founder of the data recovery industry in 1984 and has recovered data from tens of thousands of clients' computers and media, whether owned, or seized by court order, over a time span of nearly two decades. Burgess Computer Forensics provides computer forensic and electronic discovery services as well as expert witness testimony. Here are extracts from only two of their very interesting computer forensic cases:
Family Member Steals Clients, Sets up Competition
“A member of a family-run communications business left the company. While denying it, individual started business in direct competition with family business. Individual's computer was identified as an asset of original company. Individual claimed that no company info was on computer. Burgess Forensics was engaged to test claim.”
Model Pursued by Wealthy Suitor. Suitor Claims Libel
“A wealthy suitor financed a young model. Once model soured on suitor, evidence was presented to show that model had committed libel. Inspection of model's office computer was ordered. Burgess Forensics attended inspection only to find that aforementioned suitor's computer forensic consultants did not understand how to access the data on the computer in question.”
Digital Forensics - Data Recovery
Although most high profile computer forensic cases usually result in some kind of criminal investigation or civil litigation, digital forensic techniques, including data recovery, can also be used other situations, including perhaps, simply re-tracking steps taken when data has been lost.
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