Computer Forensics:  Just What Is Evidence
Computer forensics is the science of uncovering potential criminal activities on a computer or other digital medium.  Are you guilty of having something on your computer that is illegal or could implicate you in a crime?  With more and more people turning to the internet for something to do, there are an increasing number of people finding themselves in trouble with the law. Computer forensics can uncover a wide range of different types of evidence to use against a person.  Computer forensics will help to uncover any potential evidence that the computer or digital medium has to do with a crime.  Here are some examples of how that can happen.

• The computer itself may be contraband.  If the computer is stolen, that in itself it the simplest of evidence needed.  The software on the computer can also be stolen, in which case, a crime has been committed.

• Did the computer serve as a tool that was part of the offense?  Those that use computers to do illegal things like make counterfeit identifications, documents or illegal products will have their computers considered evidence as well.

• Are there files, emails or other items on the computer that help to show that the crime has been committed?  Instant messages are a common tool that can be used if two individuals are chatting about the crime.  Other possible things include those that use the computer to track their income from stolen goods or drugs.

• Was the computer used in the crime?  For example, the computer may be used to hack into the mainframe of another computer or even worse to a credit card company.  If the computer was used in this manner and is still holding information it is the biggest give away possible to a computer forensic team.

Computers serve many roles in our lives.  With the help of a computer forensic team, they also serve as a means to telling us when someone has left behind a trail of evidence of their criminal activities.