Investigating Computer Crime.To a very large extent, modern society has become dependent on computers. Individuals in all walks of life, from Wall Street investors to farmers, now use computers to perform their jobs more quickly and efficiently. Unfortunately, however, computers are not just the tools of law-abiding citizens. Increasingly, they are being used to commit crimes. In recent years, computers have become tools of choice for not only white-collar criminals but also for a growing number of violent offenders, such as drug traffickers Noun 1. drug trafficker - an unlicensed dealer in illegal drugs drug dealer, drug peddler, peddler, pusher criminal, crook, felon, malefactor, outlaw - someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime and child molesters Noun 1. child molester - a man who has sex (usually sodomy) with a boy as the passive partner paederast, pederast degenerate, deviant, deviate, pervert - a person whose behavior deviates from what is acceptable especially in sexual behavior . Law enforcement agencies A law enforcement agency (LEA) is a term used to describe any agency which enforces the law. This may be a local or state police, federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). must develop the expertise necessary to confront these increasingly hi-tech criminals. Investigating Computer Crime covers many of the topics with which law enforcement agencies must become familiar. The coauthors, both experienced criminal investigators with considerable backgrounds in computers, provide a wealth of information in a clear and concise manner. They describe, in detail, the different types of computer systems and hardware that investigators might encounter, from mainframes and personal computers to "home style" systems frequently used by computer crackers See cracker. . The authors devote one particularly timely chapter to discussing the different network systems currently in use and some of the problems associated with detecting and investigating crimes committed on these systems. Other chapters discuss serving search warrants in cases involving computers, safeguarding computer evidence, and ensuring a proper chain of command for computer evidence. In these chapters, the authors provide an excellent overview of computer seizures and advocate a team approach when law enforcement agencies serve warrants calling for the confiscation confiscation In law, the act of seizing property without compensation and submitting it to the public treasury. Illegal items such as narcotics or firearms, or profits from the sale of illegal items, may be confiscated by the police. Additionally, government action (e.g. of computer equipment. In addition, they provide helpful sample search warrants that can be used for the seizure Forcible possession; a grasping, snatching, or putting in possession. In Criminal Law, a seizure is the forcible taking of property by a government law enforcement official from a person who is suspected of violating, or is known to have violated, the law. of computer-related evidence. The authors also include insightful discussions of emerging technological issues. One such chapter deals with encryption The reversible transformation of data from the original (the plaintext) to a difficult-to-interpret format (the ciphertext) as a mechanism for protecting its confidentiality, integrity and sometimes its authenticity. Encryption uses an encryption algorithm and one or more encryption keys. , while another offers suggestions for investigating underground bulletin board systems. Still, the authors of Computer Crime recognize that computer technology changes too rapidly to be addressed comprehensively in a book. So, they not only recommend that investigators constantly seek out competent, qualified instructors in this area, but they also provide a useful directory of notables in the field. Law enforcement personnel will find Investigating Computer Crime a good first step in learning to deal with computer-related criminal activity. Reviewed by Arthur L. Bowker, M.A. Investigator Office of Labor Management Standards U.S. Department of Labor Cleveland, Ohio "Cleveland" redirects here. For the Cleveland metropolitan area, see . For other uses, see Cleveland (disambiguation). Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion