What is Computer Forensics?

For almost as long as computers and the Internet have been around, there have been computer criminals. Computer forensics, sometimes also called computer forensic science, is the field that investigates computer crimes, such as identity theft and data theft. Basically, it is a computer forensic specialist’s job to catch cybercriminals.

Computer forensics came about because of the increasing number of crimes committed with computers. Also, because technology only seems to be advancing, and more people buy and use computers every day, there will only be a growing demand for people to work in this field.

Since computer forensics is a new field, most of the people who work in it received on-the-job training. However, it is also becoming a competitive field, meaning one should earn a degree to stay competitive. Computer forensics degrees are now available, and it is recommended that anyone who wishes to work in the field earn this degree. In addition, there are certifications that one can earn, and usually the best bet is to earn a degree and become certified. This gives an applicant the best possible odds of getting a job without having any work-related experience in computer forensics.

Since it is the computer forensic specialist’s job to collect evidence from a computer, specialists have a select set of tools they use to collect and analyze data. Some of these tools include:

FTK
Encase
TK Forensics
Computer Online Forensic Evidence Extractor (COFEE)

Computer criminals are probably some of the most intelligent of their kind. One of the main concerns of a computer forensic specialist is losing data, which often means losing evidence. Teams of specialists often have to worry about defensive measures taken by the person they are investigating. There are ways one can set up a computer to destroy the data, such as electromagnetically erasing the hard drive, destroying the evidence the team could collect. This can ruin an entire case against a cybercriminal.

Computer forensics is a new and growing field developed to catch a new kind of criminal. Those who would show the most interest are people who have an interest or expertise with computer security and a desire to work with law enforcement agencies.

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