In the digital age, much critical information is stored electronically and cybercrime and fraudulent activities within organisations are becoming an increasing problem.Computer forensics is a discipline that can detect threats, analyse incidents and secure electronic evidence.
Here are 5 key situations in which you should use the services of computer forensics specialists.
Attacks on IT devices and systems – identification of attacked devices and incident analysis
Cyber attacks can take many forms – from simple attempts to steal login data to complex ransomware attacks that encrypt corporate assets. When an attack is suspected, IT forensics allows you to:
Specialists analyse system logs, network traffic and possible traces of malware to determine exactly what happened and how to prevent further incidents.
Employee dishonesty – breaches of procedure and data theft
It is not only external attacks that pose a threat to an organisation. Often, it is the employees who may commit actions contrary to the interests of the company. This may include:
- analyse the source of the attack and determine how the breach occurred,
- determine what data was stolen, modified or deleted,
- identifying the perpetrator within the organisation or attempting to attribute actions to external groups,
- recommendations for securing the system for the future.
Computer forensics makes it possible to analyse digital traces and attempt to reconstruct user activities in the system (e.g. attempts to extract data, correspondence to private email addresses, use of wording indicating preparation for acts of unfair competition, catching anomalies in systems).
Recovering lost data
Data loss is experienced by organisations both due to processing irregularities and criminal activities.
The most common cases include:
- hardware failures – damage to data storage media
- accidental deletion of files – e.g. deletion of important documents by mistake,
- ransomware attack – data encryption by cyber criminals,
- sabotage by an employee – deliberate deletion of files before leaving the company.
Computer forensics specialists use advanced data recovery techniques. The analysis often sheds new light on the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Securing evidence
In the course of investigations, the proper, artful preservation of digital material is an essential element. The correctness of this process is important in terms of preserving the integrity of the information obtained and warding off allegations of possible manipulation of the records (in the context of a potential dispute).
Support in litigation and disputes
In many cases, computer forensics provides digital evidence that can be crucial in legal proceedings, such as:
- employment disputes,
- disputes with contractors,
- acts of unfair competition,
- defamation.
Summary
Computer forensics is used in a wide range of situations – from hacking attacks to data theft to detecting fraud within an organisation. It aims to identify the perpetrators, analyse the evidence and help recover lost information.
If you have suspicions about an incident in your business or need to recover data, it is worth enlisting the services of specialists who are experienced in analysing digital footprints and countering threats. Verificators will guide you through the entire process, from identifying the problem to selecting measures and carrying out the investigation.
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