Computer forensics (also known as digital or cyber forensics) involves the investigation of digital evidence connected to a crime. The process of solving a crime often involves the use of forensics. Forensics professionals use scientific techniques to study evidence connected to a crime and report their results to courts of law.
Full Answer
Computer forensics is a field of technology that uses investigative techniques to identify and store evidence from a computer device. Often, computer forensics is used to uncover evidence that could be used in a court of law. Computer forensics also encompasses areas outside of investigations.
Computer forensics -- which is sometimes referred to as computer forensic science -- essentially is data recovery with legal compliance guidelines to make the information admissible in legal proceedings. The terms digital forensics and cyber forensics are often used as synonyms for computer forensics.
For those working in the field, there are five critical steps in computer forensics, all of which contribute to a thorough and revealing investigation.Policy and Procedure Development. ... Evidence Assessment. ... Evidence Acquisition. ... Evidence Examination. ... Documenting and Reporting.
At first glance, computer forensics and cyber security may seem similar, but there are key differences between the two professions. Computer forensics focuses on uncovering and preserving encrypted or lost data, while cyber security is about preventing data loss or cybercrimes from occurring.
What is Digital Forensics? Digital forensics may be defined as the branch of forensic science that analyzes, examines, identifies and recovers the digital evidences residing on electronic devices. It is commonly used for criminal law and private investigations.
The application of computer technology to the investigation of. computer based crime has given rise to a new field of specialisation—forensic computing—which is the process of identi- fying, preserving, analysing and presenting digital evidence in a manner that is legally acceptable.
Explanation: A method which uses stochastic properties of the computer system to investigate activities lacking digital artifacts. Its chief use is to investigate data theft.
Law enforcement agencies and private firms fight cybercrime using computer forensics to track, locate and extract digital information needed for criminal investigations. Computer forensics specialists search hard drives to uncover deleted or hidden files using file recovery programs and encryption decoding software.