Publications

Go beyond a digital forensics investigation

January 2016

Whether your business is the victim of fraud, an information leak, online bullying or even time theft by its resources, there are many ways to identify those responsible for these illegal acts. To increase your chances of identifying the perpetrators and putting a stop to their activities, you can combine a physical investigation with a digital one.

DIGITAL FOOTPRINTS

Like a trail in newly-fallen snow, we all leave footprints in cyberspace. Whether we’re using a computer, a cell phone, a GPS navigation system or a credit card, information about our smallest actions and movements is left behind.

When you are faced with a problem situation, collecting a mass of data collected by computer systems is an excellent starting point for an investigation. And if there is no trail, that is even more suspicious.

It takes an expert to find most of these footprints, and that is the job of the digital forensics investigator. Their experience allows them to find the data available and the fraudulent actions. They have the knowledge required to ferret out the hidden data and interpret what they find. They draw conclusions, prioritize some trails and rule out others.

THE PHYSICAL INVESTIGATION

What too few people realize is that there is sometimes a limit to this data. It’s important to connect it to the physical world, to individuals. It will point investigators in a particular direction, but it may not be enough to bring charges or take administrative actions. In most cases, the digital evidence needs to be supplemented with other types of evidence to build a solid case.

This is where what might be called a “traditional” investigator comes in. Their expertise is by no means insignificant, since it’s their job to provide the link between the work of the digital forensics investigator and the court. They gather the physical, concrete evidence, the traces left in the “real world,” to confirm the initial suspicions.

Usually, investigators called in to deal with cases of fraud, data theft or defamation have a background in policing. They have training in interviewing techniques that allow them to interrogate a suspect based on digital evidence.

The expertise involved in digital evidence and physical evidence combined ensures a very high degree of effectiveness in resolving delicate situations.

Have you been the victim of a worrying incident? Our team guarantees prompt action, absolute discretion, and effective techniques leading to reliable results. Contact us..