NCJ Number
175254
Date Published
1996
Length
246 pages
Annotation
This is a practical book on collecting electronic evidence and investigating crimes that involve computers.
Abstract
The authors define "computer-related crime" as "any criminal activity that involves use of computer technology, directly or indirectly, as the instrumentality or object of the commission of a criminal act." The book's format follows a step-by-step approach to the investigation, seizure, and analysis of computer evidence, beginning with a chapter on the computer search warrant team. This chapter profiles the tasks of the case supervisor and the teams that perform the following tasks: interviews, sketches and photos, physical search, security and arrest, and technical evidence seizure and logging. A chapter on computer-related evidence addresses the types of such evidence, where it may be found, an examination of the evidence for criminal content, cautions and considerations, legal requirements, and evidence storage. The "investigative tool box" is described in another chapter. Explanations of investigative aids encompass computer software, hardware, and "other useful stuff." A chapter on the tasks of crime-scene investigation is followed by a chapter that describes how to make a boot disk. Other chapters focus on the seizing of a computer, evidence evaluation and analysis, the investigation of floppy diskettes, common field extensions, passwords and encryption, the investigation of bulletin boards, "elite" acronyms, networks, ideal investigative computer systems, court procedures, and search warrants. Extensive photo illustrations accompany the text. A glossary and subject index