When one thinks of forensics, your mind automatically goes to CSI and Law & Order and the countless other crime shows watched nightly on television screens across the country.
But, there is more to "forensics" than DNA. In today's day and age, we leave a different footprint behind us - a massive digital footprint. The average person in America has access to more than 10 digital devices (https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/u-s-households-have-an-average-of-11-connected-devices-and-5g-should-push-that-even-higher-1203431225/) These devices contain electronically stored information (ESI) that can reveal a lot about you. It reveals evidence that can prove motive, wearabouts, patterns of behaviour, social circles, physical activity, personal health information, etc. This evidence can be obtained by a digital forensics examiner, such as myself, and analyzed and presented in a court of law.
Statistically, 85% of all corporate data is stored electronically, 93% of new data is stored electronically, and approximately 75% of this information is never printed. Consequently, in almost every legal matter, critical and relevant evidence will be in the form of ESI. Hundreds, if not thousands, of businesses have access to your data - many of whom you may have only interacted with one time passively...your footprint is massive and most people have no idea how much information can be obtained through their connected devices, those they use, those they wear, and even those they drive.
What, exactly, is digital forensics?
Digital forensics is a threefold process that includes:
Collection of electronically stored information (ESI)
The analysis of that information, and
Presentation of that information in a court of law, or in the case of private matters, to the client.
It has been beautifully described as the marriage of art and a science. Because data is so abundant, digital forensics is becoming an increasingly critical component to investigations everywhere.
Over time, we will explore real case studies of how key digital evidence was successfully used in a court of law and how Key Forensics can help with your case, whether corporate, criminal or private...
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