Computer forensics
deals with the familiar questions
of the Who, What, Where and How;
surrounding the use of a
computer in a criminal activity or civil
dispute. Subject to certain variables,
computer data can be located, even in
cases where they are supposed to have
been deleted.
In the 21st century, computers and other
digital devices like mobile phones now
form the common channel of communication
in social and business circles.
Consequently, computers hold a multitude
of evidence to prove or disprove a fact
in issue before a court of law or
administrative tribunal. Computer and
digital evidence can be used in the
following matters
Financial fraud
High tech. crimes
Divorce proceedings
Employment dispute proceedings
Contract & commercial Disputes
Corporate compliance
Administrative hearings
Arbitration and mediation
The need to locate
legal evidence can result from the
combined or singular occurrence of a
Criminal Act or Civil Claim
through the use of a Computer or
one of the many devices classified as
Computers e.g. Mobile phones and PDA
(Personal digital assistant).
Proof of the
existence or non existence of a fact in
issue is based on hard evidence. In the
case of Computer generated evidence,
much of the who, what ,where and how is
buried in the inner recess of the
Computer in non human readable form, as
binary digits - ones and zeros. (1,0).
The text, images
and sound displayed on a Computer are
interpretations of binary digits held
within the Computers memory, Hard disk
and page files. A substantial percentage
of what constitutes Computer evidence
cannot be transferred to paper format by
mere printing because of their volatile
nature and some embedded data referred
to as metadata..
Given the
technical characteristics of Computer
evidence, expert assistance in
extracting, analysing and presenting
this specie of evidence, is not only a
necessary step but it is indeed a
mandatory requirement.
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Failure to adhere to established
and recognised protocols in extracting and analysing
computer evidence can render an
otherwise probative evidence utterly
useless.
The cost of not acting or acting
out of ignorance is
pretty high as recent Case law
has shown. Companies have been
made to pay Millions of Dollars
for reckless handling of
computer evidence and lawyers
have being sued for professional
negligence for ignoring and
mismanaging computer evidence.
Don't wait to be caught in this
loop, you cannot plead
ignorance. Get some
professional assistance.
How can we
Help ?
We carry out independent review
of forensic evidence in our own
lab. Conduct the examination,
cross examination and re
examination of expert witnesses.
We
verify, and where necessary
contest the procedures,
methodologies and findings of
forensic investigators based on
reports from our own independent
forensic laboratory.
when we
embed in your legal team, you
strategically avoid the use of
an expert and consequently have
the advantage of a technical
expert solicitor conducting your
case.
We are on
board from Pre trial proceedings,
case management conference
to litigation or arbitration ,
providing the necessary input as
it affects computer evidence and
electronic document discovery.
Contact Us for further
details
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