Commercial forensic packages
Computer advancement has led the development of new technology which can be used in various purposes, including a forensic investigation to gather digital and electronic intelligence evidence.
The information exchange takes place over the internet daily. Despite this being an advantage for an ordinary person, criminals use the internet to execute their activities. Corporate fraud, breach of contract, intellectual property disputes, theft, and asset recovery are some of the cases where computer forensics can be used.
A fundamental advantage of computer forensics is the ability to quickly and efficiently search and analyze a tone of data. Searching hard drive using keywords in different languages ease the investigation. High volume data can be rapidly analyzed, and the information can be efficiently hence aiding forensic investigators in submitting their work after investigation.
Valuable data which might have been lost or deleted by criminals can be retrieved and used for further investigation or as evidence in court. Forensic investigation can produce data in court which might have been previously impossible to get.
Despite having several advantages, there are some disadvantages. The set back comes when forensic evidence is to be used in court. Some evidence might not be admissible in court, and data can be easily modified. A forensic analyst must comply with standards of evidence required in the court of law and ensure that the evidence is not tampered with. Findings should be documented and accounted for, and computer forensics must have appropriate training of legal standard procedural training before handling evidence.
Computer forensics is a new technology; many do not understand. It is therefore crucial that legal practitioners involved in the case should have relevant computer forensics knowledge. Also, analysts must present their findings in a way that be understood by everyone.
Despite its disadvantages, commercial forensics is the answer to must questions which can be justified by conventional methods of investigation. Commercial forensic packages help in stopping and fighting cyber crimes.
Forensic analysis
The critical process use in forensic analysis to preserve the viability of digital evidence includes password protection and encryption. A forensic analyst should create a password to prevent unauthorized access of information contained in the computer. This password should not be shared at all cost as sharing leads to leaking of vital information that is very helpful, affecting the integrity of the evidence. Encryption of digital evidence to prevent modification. Encrypting will only make the analyst the one that is in a position to check the contents and no one else.
MD5 algorithm, counter forensic, and harvesting to prevent modification of digital evidence. The MD5 algorithm helps ensure that the copy is original and is not duplicated. MD5 can also be used to create a summary of messages for files. The MD5 summarize information that, when analyzing the data from the original discs and relative duplicates, can be used as part of the forensic examinations of the computer to ensure that an image made is an exact copy of the original.
Users continue to be more aware of the fact that “deleting” a file does not mean destroying the information it contained, but rather it is a real boost for the controversial software business sector that is promoted as “privacy” software. There are many anti-forensic tools in the presence that are easily available online.
During harvesting, all potential digital evidence related to a case is extracted and made accessible for the examination. Because the encryption of the information is increasingly consecutive among ordinary people, researchers are likely to continue to commit cryptography when evaluating a case.
Automated tools are valuable for their speed and practicality, but a wise researcher will retain the knowledge of the most primitive tools used to perform the same tasks in the case of forensic countermeasures focused on the particular instrument of choice.
Criminal investigation of illegal gang activities
Field interview techniques used by investigators include Cognitive Interviewing, Assumptive Questions, The Reid Technique, and Use of Deception.
Cognitive interviewing focus on getting the consistency of the story, during the interview, an investigator ask the subject to tell the whole story after then he will ask the subject to repeat the entire story in reverse or from end to the beginning. This technique makes it harder for some to keep lying since it will increase the number of mental tasks.
In assumptive questions, investigators usually pose two assumptive questions to stimulate a verbal confession. Investigators can use choices questions which carry good and bad rationale such as “Did you intend to kill him or just to scare him with a knife?” Other methods used in this technique is soft accusation and yes-no questions.
The Reid technique employs an accusative approach to discourage the suspect from denying. Investigators analyze the response and press for further information about the crime.
Finally, the use of deception, allows the police to obtain convicting admission by playing on conclusive guilt proof, which may not even exist.
Gang graffiti provides helpful information to the police and other law enforcement agencies. Gang graffiti can mark the boundaries of gang territories be used to mock or threaten other gangs or individuals, boast of results and send coded business communications, such as the time and drug market places. Paying attention to the nicknames that appear together provides clues about the application of the law on the identity of gang members and their gangs.
Monikers can also tell the police when there is an escalation of violence. An X that removes the nickname means that the gang member is targeted for murder or attack. The wings of a nickname are a tribute to a member of a murdered gang and can be a clue to enforce the law that rival gangs will seek revenge.
REFERENCES
Brian D. Carrier. 2006. Basic Digital Forensic Investigation Concepts. Http://www.digital-evidence.org/di_basics.html
Christopher D. Hoffman. 2005. Investigative Interviewing: Strategies and Techniques. Https://www.ifpo.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/interviewing.pdf
Nick Perna. 2019. Gang Investigations: How police can gain intelligence from gang graffiti. Https://www.policeone.com/gangs/articles/483668006-How-police-can-gain-intelligence-from-gang-graffiti/
Rory V. O’Connor. 2005. Software selection: Towards an understanding of forensic software tool selection in industrial practice. Https://www.researchgate.net/publication/240749019_Software_selection_Towards_an_understanding_of_forensic_software_tool_selection_in_industrial_practice