Computer Forensics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Computer Forensics - Essay Example According to US-CERT (2008), â€Å"computer forensics is the discipline that combines elements of law and computer science to collect and analyze data from computer systems, networks, wireless communications, and storage devices in a way that is admissible as evidence in a court of law† (US-CERT, 2008,p.1). Computer forensics is an important tool for managers and network administrators who handle the security related issues of the computer systems. Proper understandings about the legal and technical aspects of computer forensics will help the computer professionals to locate and prosecute the intruders more easily. This paper briefly analyses the characteristics of computer forensics, computer forensics jobs, computer forensics education and the pay scale existing in the computer forensics professions. â€Å"From a technical standpoint, the main goal of computer forensics is to identify, collect, preserve, and analyze data in a way that preserves the integrity of the evidence collected so it can be used effectively in a legal case† (US-CERT, 2008,p.2). It is difficult to prove the cyber crimes in court because of the difficulties in submitting evidences. The intruders can escape easily from punishments because of lack of evidences collected normally from a computer crime location. Since all the intrusion and hacking processes are being done electronically, rather than physically, it is difficult to prove form which source the intruder entered a particular computer. In the absence of computer forensics, the chances of arresting the computer criminals are very feeble. Computer data or memory can be divided into two categories based on the persistence; Persistent data and volatile data. Persistent data are the ones which is stored in the computer hard disks or external memory sources like compact disks, floppies etc. On the other