Computer Forensic Tools

1. Introduction The aim of this report is to theoretical cover data preservation, examination of digital evidence, tools and techniques for data capture, preservation and examination with a list of recommendations. In our modern society, computers and other digital devices are becoming ubiquitous. In the late 1970’s the number of crimes that involved digital devices and computers has been increasing rapidly. As a result of that, computer experts specified the need for permanently improving digital forensic tools and practices.

", n.d.). Crimes such as data diddling, pump and dump, social engineering and spoofing are computer crimes. Even though these crimes are difficult by privacy issues, the new technology has made investigations and prosecutions well organized and effective. Though views are different on the pros and cons of specific technological changes in the criminal justice system, there is an agreement the system has changed affectedly ("Effects of Technology in Criminal Justice | eHow", n.d.). As we may see on television, it may seem as if officers are always out in the field chasing down the criminals but there is more to their jobs than just that.

Computer Crime Is Increasing A report discussing the proposition that computer crime has increased dramatically over the last 10 years. Introduction Computer crime is generally defined as any crime accomplished through special knowledge of computer technology. Increasing instances of white-collar crime involve computers as more businesses automate and the information held by the computers becomes an important asset. Computers can also become objects of crime when they or their contents are damaged, for example when vandals attack the computer itself, or when a "computer virus" (a program capable of altering or erasing computer memory) is introduced into a computer system. As subjects of crime, computers represent the electronic environment in which frauds are programmed and executed; an example is the transfer of money balances in accounts to perpetrators' accounts for withdrawal.

Digital Evidence and Computer Crime: Forensic Science, Computers, and the Internet is essentially a guide on how to collect and process digital evidence in any situation. In this book, digital evidence is defined as “any data stored or transmitted using a computer that support or refute a theory of how an offense occurred or that address critical elements of the offense such as intent or alibi” (Casey, 7). Most crimes today have some kind of digital element to them, from the crime itself to the criminal’s use of computer systems to communicate, store incriminating data, or search for ways to commit a crime and this creates new challenges for those in law enforcement (Casey, 3). To fully understand what digital evidence is and how it is to be collected, one must have knowledge of the different types of computer systems. The first and most obvious is called an open system.

The windows dump file can be one of the following mentioned types: • Full sized memory dump or complete dump: These dumps will record all information when your system stops abruptly. • Memory dumps for kernel: Only kernel data will get recorded when system stops abruptly. • Small sized memory dump: it will record smallest piece of useful information when system stops abruptly. The forensic study of physical memory is a wide area of research. It is gaining interest as number of techniques and tools are presented their by many researchers.

Computer Memory Hacking Pamela Riddle Professor Patricia Riley CIS 106 November 20, 2014 Technology continues to evolve exponentially. However these technological advancements continue to pose a threat to both individuals and information resources of companies and governments. There is therefore the need to protect one’s data and information due to the emerging threats and risks. Hacking is where third parties create a backdoor version of a hardware and software so as to manipulate or unlock hidden functionalities on a machine. Most of these hacks are open source and free soft wares.

New technologies are the objects that change the nature of criminal behavior and the crime, one of the main technologies that have been used widely for crime purposes is computer. This paper intends to look at computer crime, statistics about it, causes of computer crime, the punishment for those who commit this act, and ways to prevent computer crime. II. History of Computer Crime: Many scholars argued that computer crime began on 1940s with the creation of computer. But the first known computer crime spotted in October 1966 in the United States.

INTRODUCTION: With the increase use of computers to commit crimes and growing demand for computer-based data in civil proceedings, crimes developed rapidly for forensics experts to extract useful information from computer evidence. The field of digital forensics has evolved to allow security professionals to examine evidence from the increasing plethora of digital devices to help determine what individuals might have done in the past. Some of the digital crimes are cyber stalking, Internet fraud, Nigerian scam letter, Phishing, Identity Theft etc. Forensic works are more technical. From corporate server farms to police raids on criminals' houses to the modern battlefield a wide variety of evidence is collected.

("Computer," 1997) Today, they are e-mail attachments, filetransfers and infected software downloads or uploads. Networks can evenspread viruses to large numbers of connected PCs rapidly. (Yang, 1998) Noone working on a [personal computer] is risk free; more viruses are beingspread today than ever before, but more help is being developed as well.Special software is now in stores that will help to prevent any majordisasters that viruses can cause. (Miastkowski, 1998) Antivirus software isa program that protects against viruses. It scans all files on the hard disk,diskettes, CD ROM, and memory to locate viruses.

1.0 Introduction In our modern society where technology is evolving, the people who are exposed to computers each day are also increasing. Using computers have become part of our daily lives to the extent that the world would not function as it would now without the use of computers. With that, criminals are moving on to using computers for their criminal activities and thus computer crimes are born. Every now and then we will hear news of companies getting hacked, government websites being defaced, customers’ information being leaked out and other various computer crimes all over the world. This report aims to introduce the various types of computer crimes and what impact does computer crimes bring to the society.