| Why
are we putting all the emphasis on Computer Forensics (CF)?
|
| Until now, we have argued that we conduct
investigations -- we do not sell hard-to-get information or
tactics. Thus if a client contacts us and tells us that he needs "a
surveillance", we counter with a key question, "What are you trying
to determine?" Sometimes "a surveillance" is the most appropriate
approach to the investigative problem -- and sometimes it is not. A
client can hire us to get him the information he needs. He cannot
hire us to apply a particular tactic. |
| However, Computer Forensics is in its infancy
and its potential as an investigative tool is yet to be fully
explored. We believe that like DNA, CF has the potential of
developing both inculpatory and exculpatory evidence, that without
its use, will remain hidden. |
| Crude, early use of CF can be traced back to
about 1985, roughly 3 or 4 years after the advent of the IBM PC.
However, it was not until 1990 that the law enforcement community
started taking its potential at its true value. For example, it was
not until 1993 that Orange County California, with its population at
that time of more than 2.3 million, obtained its first conviction in
a murder case using evidence unearthed by use of CF. |
|
Law
enforcement has continued to take the lead spending large sums on
training and automated software. Academia has contributed handsomely
to the development o f software and
methodology. |
|
Software
developers have stepped into an expanding market for Computer
Forensic tools and continue to profit from both training and
software. |
| The private sector has been a lot slower to
recognize the potential of CF and in truth has been frightened away
by huge fees. That however is changing rapidly. An ever expanding
skilled workforce and highly reliable automated CF tools and of
course, competition, have caused prices of CF work to drop rapidly.
We now see computer forensic fees as being within the budgets of all
clients! |
|
As I noted at the outset, CF is only
a tool, it is not a substitute for investigation. But, with some
estimates that 85% of the time, some evidence of illicit activity can be
found on computers, it is a tactic we always consider. |
|
<=To
see how CF can be employed in personal matters, business matters and in
legal support, click the links at the left. |
| Related Topics: |
|
http://www.ComputerEvidenceRetrieval.com |
|
http://www.LasVegasComputerForensics.com |
| |
|
|
Call us at 702-453-4500
E-Mail - Investigations@LasVegasPI.com
|
