Computer Forensics : An Essential Ingredient for Cyber Security

Computer forensics uses computer investigation and analysis techniques to collect evidence regarding what happened on a computer that is admissible in a court of law. Computer forensics requires a wellbalanced combination of technical skills, legal acumen, and ethical conduct. Computer forensics specialists use powerful software tools to uncover data to be sorted through, and then must figure out the important facts and how to properly present them in a court of law. Cyber crime rates are accelerating and computer forensics is the crucial discipline that has the power to impede the progress of these cyber criminals. Computer forensics is defined by SearchSecurity.com as “the application of computer investigation and analysis techniques to gather evidence suitable for presentation in a court of law” (2005). The goal of computer forensics is to carry out a structured investigation while documenting a chain of evidence to discover exactly what happened on a computer and who was responsible for it. The main priority of computer JIST 3(1) 2006 www.jist.info Journal of Information Science and Technology The Information Institute Author Notes: This paper was presented at Western Connecticut State University Research Day, which took place on April 22, 2005. This event was sponsored by Western Connecticut State University.