Computer forensics is the process of collecting, analyzing, and preserving evidence from digital devices in a manner that is legally admissible in a court of law. Many times, Certified Forensic Accounting Professionals require these services.
Forensic Accounting may be asked to investigate crimes such as cyberattacks, embezzlement, and intellectual property theft, as well as identify and mitigate security breaches. This is where the role of computer forensics starts. Computer forensics uncover and document relevant digital evidence in a way that is impartial, reliable, and admissible in a court of law.
Some of the cases where computer forensics is used are
- Investigating cybercrime: Computer forensics may be used to investigate crimes such as hacking, identity theft, and other forms of cybercrime.
- Recovering data from damaged or corrupted devices: Computer forensics experts may be able to recover data from damaged or corrupted devices, such as hard drives or smartphones, that would otherwise be inaccessible.
- Identifying and mitigating security breaches: Computer forensics can be used to identify the source and extent of a security breach, as well as to implement measures to prevent future breaches.
- Investigating embezzlement: Computer forensics may be used to investigate embezzlement by analyzing financial records and other digital evidence.
- Examining digital evidence in legal cases: Computer forensics experts may be called upon to analyze digital evidence, such as email or text messages, in legal cases involving crimes such as fraud or child pornography.
- Identifying cyberbullying: Computer forensics may be used to identify the source of cyberbullying and to gather evidence for legal action.
- Investigating intellectual property theft: Computer forensics may be used to investigate the theft of trade secrets or other intellectual property.
