Cyber Crime

Computer-hacking forensics investigation has become a very popular practice within the corporate world. Although most knowledge workers probably equate computer-hacking forensics investigation with law enforcement, the military or the security community, very few understand the deep, positive impact computer-hacking forensics investigators can bring to the organizations they represent.

Computer forensics is "the gathering, authentication, examination and analysis of electronic information stored on any type of storage medium." Often, computer forensics is used in criminal cases when a device is involved with a crime. For example, in cases where the computer is the source, tool or target of a crime, such as e-mail fraud, child pornography or a virus attack, law enforcement officers will conduct detailed forensics investigations to bring the culprits to justice.

Challenges for Businesses
The need for forensics experts has been on the rise in the corporate world, particularly in civil cases involving electronic data discovery. "We have seen a trend of increasing awareness within corporate environments of the effectiveness of pre-emptive computer forensic activity," said Erik Laykin, CHFI, director of Navigant Consulting Inc.'s Information Technology Investigations group. "Often, boards of directors, audit committees or even directors of security will require the assistance of computer forensics professionals to gain awareness of the corporations' conduct prior to a regulatory action or significant lawsuits."
In the 2005 case of Coleman Holdings Inc. v. Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc., Coleman was awarded a $604 million damage verdict because documents Morgan Stanley withheld demonstrated fraud. Morgan Stanley lost its bid to win the second trial on punitive damage when the jury awarded another $850 million to Coleman.
These damages were awarded simply because Morgan Stanley failed to conduct its electronic data discovery in a fashion and time acceptable to the... [continues]

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