The Significance Involving Computer Forensic Analysis

Jul.05, 2010 in Computers

Different criminal investigations will require different kinds of computer forensic analysis. Thus, the procedure of forensic analysis will differ for homicide and corporate data theft and it is very clear why. There are however some general common grounds that are encountered with both procedures. First of all, finding evidence that can be accepted in a court of law is not enough. Sometimes the nature of the evidence is versatile or perishable and the computer forensics investigator has to do everything to preserve it or at least to make good viable copies. Once a crime scene is thoroughly searched by forensic experts, a forensic analysis moves in the lab.

Computer forensic analysis can reveal a whole range of traces and evidences that cannot be identifiable on the spot and with regular means. Thus, germs, bacteria, fingerprints, facial portraits, mineral and textile analysis, DNA analysis as well as other elements collected on the crime scene get under micro-scrutiny for confirmation or discarding as relevant or irrelevant for criminal prosecution. In case victims are involved in the forensic analysis, medical exams and checks will be performed by people who are qualified to identify anything with relevance for the case.

It is the popular belief that a forensic analysis necessarily involves manslaughter or other very tragic crime but forensic analysis serves for a very large number of investigations. Where there is a work accident, a fire, a case of identity or data theft, situations of financial fraud and so on, a good forensic analysis could reveal the culprit, and even help to reducing loss and recovering data. The criminal justice picture we tend to attribute to a regular forensic analysis results from the impact that police TV series such as CSI have on popular culture.

Science TV channels like Discovery for instance also allow an insight of a computer forensic investigation, but they surely present the most spectacular of cases. This sensationalism of violence is an international trend, it affects people from all over the world and it has to be kept under control in order not to harm young minds. Nobody should interfere with forensic investigation because without knowing it one could destroy or ruin evidence and affect the very course of a trial. Professionals know what they have to do, so we should let them to. A forensic analysis is not amateur detective work but something a lot more complex from the scientific point of view.