Computer Forensics: Computer Crime Scene Investigation (With CD-ROM) (Networking Series)

Computer forensics, also referred to as computer forensic analysis, electronic discovery, electronic evidence discovery, digital discovery, data recovery, data discovery, computer analysis, and computer examination, is the process of methodically examining computer media (hard disks, diskettes, tapes, etc.) for evidence. A thorough analysis by a skilled examiner can result in the reconstruction of the activities of a computer user.

In other words, computer forensics is the collection, preservation, analysis, and presentation of computer-related evidence. Computer evidence can be useful in criminal cases, civil disputes, and human resources/employment proceedings.

Far more information is retained on a computer than most people realize. It’s also more difficult to completely remove information than is generally thought. For these reasons (and many more), computer forensics can often find evidence of, or even completely recover, lost or deleted information, even if the information was intentionally deleted.

Computer forensics, although employing some of the same skills and software as data recovery, is a much more complex undertaking. In data recovery, the goal is to retrieve the lost data. In computer forensics, the goal is to retrieve the data and interpret as much information about it as possible.