What is computer forensics? Introduction to the Investigation Process, Necessity, etc.

For any company, cyber attacks such as unauthorized access and data tampering, as well as internal fraud such as information leakage and accounting irregularities by its own employees are not something to be concerned about. When an incident involving digital data occurs, whether the cause is external or internal, it is necessary to collect and analyze the data recorded on computers, servers, hard disks, etc., and use it as evidence. This article explains the basics, necessity, and process.

What is forensics? Explaining the Meaning, Necessary Situations, Investigation Methods, and Cautions

What is computer forensics?

Forensic investigation is a forensic investigation conducted when an incident including internal fraud or information leakage occurs. In recent years, forensic investigations targeting digital data and devices have expanded due to the shift of data to the cloud and the spread of smartphones and tablets as well as PCs. Such investigations are called computer forensics or digital forensics.

Computer forensics and digital forensics

Some commentators have stated that "computer forensics is the investigation and analysis of computer data," but this is not accurate. In the field of forensic investigation, the term "computer forensics" is used to mean essentially the same thing as "digital forensics," and does not refer to investigation limited to the device (terminal) called a computer. Here, we will refer to it as digital forensics (computer forensics).

What is digital forensics? Explanation of Examples, Costs, and How to Choose an Investigation Company

Incidentally, forensic investigations conducted on mobile devices such as smartphones are sometimes referred to as mobile forensics, while those conducted on networks are called network forensics.

Purpose and necessity of digital forensics (computer forensics) measures

Cyber attacks such as unauthorized access and data falsification, as well as internal accounting irregularities and information leaks, incidents related to digital data can occur at any time, both inside and outside the company.

Therefore, "digital forensics (computer forensics)," which investigates causes and evidence by recovering traces of access and corrupted data, is very important. For crimes committed outside the company, it is necessary to find out what kind of cyber attack took place, which computer was vulnerable, and how and by what means the damage occurred. Similarly, for internal crimes, it is important to determine when and how the information was leaked, which department's employees committed the fraud, and for what purpose, so that measures can be taken to prevent recurrence.

Digital Forensics (Computer Forensics) Investigation Coverage

The scope of investigation is not limited to computers, but also includes servers and storage media. The following is a list of the main devices and related equipment that are subject to forensic investigation.

Computers (PCs)
The first item mentioned is computers used for business purposes. All digital data, from documents to e-mails and chat messages, are covered.

Servers
In addition to computers, servers where files are stored are also subject to computer forensics.

External hard disks
External hard disks are also subject to investigation. In particular, small portable HDDs, even compact ones, can handle large amounts of data. Care must be taken not to overlook them during the investigation.

Removable Media
Removable media is also a target of computer forensics. In particular, USB memory sticks are devices that can be used to take data out of a computer without raising suspicions, and therefore, should be considered carefully when investigating information leaks.

Time frame and flow of a digital forensic (computer forensic) investigation

The time required for a forensic investigation can vary from a few hours to several months, depending on the number of devices to be investigated, the items to be investigated, and the purpose of the investigation.

The investigation begins with a hearing. After clarifying the purpose of the investigation, data preservation and collection are initiated, the collected data is analyzed using specialized analysis tools, deleted data is restored, and so on, to clarify the history and path of damage. Reports are then prepared from the information obtained.

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Digital forensics (computer forensics) investigations that utilize AI technology are also available.

In today's forensic investigations, which handle enormous amounts of data, the use of AI (Artificial Intelligence) has become indispensable. Effective use of AI's ability to process large volumes of data can dramatically increase accuracy and speed. By having a small number of experts look through a small number of sample files to learn the AI's criteria, and then having the AI sort the large amount of data into relevant and irrelevant categories, the data sorting work required in the early stages of an investigation can be done by a small number of people in a short period of time. This not only makes the investigation more efficient, but also more accurate by allowing experts to focus their resources.

FRONTEO" can handle digital forensic (computer forensic) investigations quickly and with high accuracy using its own AI.

As a pioneer in forensic support services, FRONTEO has been involved in fraud investigations since its establishment in 2003. With an overwhelming track record of more than 2,000 cases of fraud investigation support, FRONTEO has supported forensic investigations by "third-party committees" and has helped many companies solve their problems with its high reliability.

KIBIT, an AI engine developed in-house, is a simple, high-performance algorithm that can be implemented quickly with a small amount of teacher data, short implementation time, and light computational processing. The AI is developed in-house, so it can be flexibly customized for each company's proprietary systems and special data. If your company is considering forensic investigation, please contact FRONTEO.

What is Digital Forensics? Explanation of case studies, costs, and how to choose an investigation company.

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