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Responsibilities Of A Computer Forensic Expert

By Frances Adams


Computer forensics is a subspecialty in digital forensic science. It is involved with things to do with data and evidence derived from digital storage media and computing devices. The other name it goes by is computer forensic science. This specialty aims at forensically examining digital media to preserve, analyze, recover, identify, and present facts and opinions on what information is found there. The people whose specialty is in this field are called computer forensic expert. The field is gaining popularity at a high rate, particularly in a world where cyber crime is rising at an alarming rate.

Digital forensic science is a new field with a relatively short history. Its creation and development was made necessary by the increase in the number of people who owned personal computers in the 1980s. People used personal computers as tools for committing computer-related crimes. A steady increase in the crimes led to the birth of the term cyber crime, which is now a global issue affecting companies in all industries.

The increased cases of computer-aided crime called for the establishment of a field that would train people in methods of recovering and investigating digital evidence to be used in court. Today, the field is used in the investigation of a wide number of crime including child pornography, cyberstalking, rape, murder, fraud, and espionage among many others. It has also been included in civil proceedings as part of information gathering in some cases.

The scope of digital forensic is very wide. It goes beyond simple retrieval of information to reconstruction of events. The application of this field in legal proceedings is guided by very strict and rigid rules. This is often contrasted from the flexibility found within the civilian domain. This science has been used in many high-profile cases and continues to become an accepted and reliable source of evidence in European and US courts.

Forensic science professionals have numerous duties and responsibilities. Examples of their responsibilities include investigating security incidents and data breaches, recovering and analyzing data from computing equipment, and dismantling and reconstructing damaged digital systems. They do not work with data and devices alone. They write technical reports, give counsel regarding legitimacy of evidence, and prepare evidence used in courts.

These professionals also provide expert testimonies for court proceedings and train officers of law enforcement about procedures used in digital evidence. They remain relevant in the profession by keeping abreast with emerging software, methodologies, and technologies. This requires them to read and research on new technologies and those that are getting retired.

Possessing reverse engineering skills is needed. To catch criminals, one must be able to think like one in reverse. People with skills in forensic science can work in a number of places. Among those places are local, state, and federal governments, legal firms, private consulting firms, large corporations, and law enforcement agencies.

Surviving in the job requires one to have good oral and writing skills. One must be able to effectively communicate the evidence they gather from systems to relevant parties both in writing and in speech. Curiosity and insight are also two very important skills needed.




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