Rooted in the personal?computing revolution, the history of digital forensics stretches back to the late 1970s when?IBM?released its first?personal computer. In the 1990s, countries around the world legislated digital forensics as an important tool for law enforcement agencies.?(Also read:?Advanced Analytics: Police Tools Combating Crime.)
Today, there are five branches of technology in a digital forensics investigation:
- Seizure, forensic imaging and media analysis.
- Examination of relevant artefacts.
- Preservation.
- Access control?through?authentication?mechanisms like passwords or tokens.
- Legal consulting, such as document review or litigation management, software tools for?incident response?or post-incident workflows.
Although digital forensics is associated with the computing revolution, forensics has a long and rich history dating back to the late 1800s. In 1879,?Hans Gross?was the first to use scientific study in criminal investigations. He was a German jurist who helped establish the field of forensic science.
Other important years in the history of forensics include:
- 1932.?The?FBI?set up a lab that allowed law enforcement officers from across the United States to access their services. This lab played a significant role in developing digital forensics as we know it today.
- 1992.?The term?“computer forensics”?was used for the first time in academic literature. It appeared in an article written by Peter Sommer and Michael Goodman called “Computers and Law: The Use of Computers in British Criminal Investigations.”
- 2000.?The first?FBI Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory (RCFL)?was established. This lab trained law enforcement officers in digital forensics techniques and methodology.
- 2002.?The?Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence (SWGDE)?published the first book about digital forensics called “Best Practices for Computer Forensics.” This book outlined best practices for computer forensics investigators and examiners.
- 2010.?Simson Garfinkel?identified issues facing digital investigations. His paper “Digital Evidence: A Forensic Science Perspective” highlighted many of the challenges investigators face when dealing with digital evidence.