The meaning of the term ‘Forensics’ in the simplest form can be said to mean the scientific methods, ways or techniques used in order to detect a crime. In the year 1986, it made its way into the courts for the first time, when molecular biologist Alec Jeffreys was asked by the police in England ,who had begun investigating the use of DNA for forensics, to use DNA to verify the confession of a 17 year-old boy in two rape-murders in the English Midlands. The tests proved the teenager was in fact not the perpetrator and the actual attacker was eventually caught, also using DNA testing.
Digital forensics is that branch of forensic science which includes in itself the recovery and investigation of material found in digital devices, often in relation to computer crimes. Cyber incidents are on the rise and increasing in number and severity. When a cyber incident occurs, the attacked enterprise responds with a set of predetermined actions. Applying digital forensics to aid in the recovery and investigation of material on digital media and networks is one of these actions. The evidentiary nature of digital forensic science requires rigorous standards to stand up to cross examination in court.
The aim of this process is to preserve any evidence in its most original form while performing a structured investigation by collecting, identifying and validating the digital information for the purpose of reconstructing past events.
Digital forensics is a constantly evolving scientific field with many sub-disciplines. Some of these sub-disciplines include Network Forensics (the monitoring, capture, storing and analysis of network activities), Digital Image Forensics (the extraction and analysis of digitally acquired photographic images), Mobile Devices Forensics (the recovery of electronic evidence from mobile phones, smart phones, SIM cards, etc), Memory forensics (the recovery of evidence from the RAM of a running computer) and most commonly known Computer Forensics (the identification, preservation, collection, analysis and reporting on evidence found on computers, laptops and storage media).
Prominent cases have been solved time and again using the science of Digital Forensics. In 2010, a wood pellet salesman from New York, sued both Facebook and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, alleging that a 2003 contract he wrote to hire Zuckerberg to do computer programming for his company, entitled him to 50% of Facebook. The courts allowed Facebook to conduct forensic testing on plaintiff’s computer, against his wishes. During testing, Facebook found the original contract document embedded in the electronic data on a hard drive from 2004. The forensic data also showed evidence of the use of six USB devices and Facebook found that the particular contract page was forged in order for the plaintiff to support his claim. The data found ended up lead the case against Facebook being dismissed and the plaintiff was arrested in charges to dupe Facebook of billions of dollars.
The ‘Certificate in Digital Forensics’ course offered by Enhelion in association with Obsidian Cyber Security is a unique programme which aims at imparting experience and knowledge in relation to this enthralling branch of science. The transition of the course is such that it begins with the basic of computer networks, then the basic devices, tools or techniques used to rule out cyber attacks and relate adversaries. It also covers the description of the HEX and ASC II codes. The experience of the firm and its professionals who have drafted the course is intensive and has been embedded in the course modules as well.
All organizations around the globe use technology in one form or the other. The pitfall of advance technology is that people have found ways to squander these advance tools also. The amplitude of loss faced by any organization due to rise in number of cyber crimes is inconceivable. There is no limit to the advancement of technology as a result of which the cyber attacks are rising too. A career in this sector is advantageous because it is related to all other sectors and is wide-ranging and lucrative at the same time.
For more details on our Digital Forensics certification course Contact Us or write to us on info@enhelion.com