Man Cleared of Child Porn Charges After Hiring Computer Forensics Expert
The recent story about Michael Fiola, a former employee of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts who was sacked for having child porn on his laptop, indicates the sheer importance of computer forensics.
State investigators found child pornography on Fiola’s computer despite him denying that he’d ever accessed such sites ever before. This led to his community shunning him, and his wife developing a stress related illness.
In order to clear his name Fiola hired a computer forensics expert, which proved to be the turning point in the case.
The computer forensic expert found that the pornography found on Fiola’s computer was due to various viruses and Trojans that had infected his computer, which allowed hackers to view the content for which Fiola was accused of accessing.
After the report was completed all charges against Mr Fiola were dropped. “The overall forensics of the laptop suggest that it had been compromised by a virus,” said Jake Wark, spokesman for Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley.
So, if you are accused of a computer related crime then remember that a computer forensics expert really can help clear your name just as Michael Fiola has discovered.
No commentsIntaForensics in the news
MEDIA and communication systems today play a more important role than ever in business but they have brought with them the increasing risk of sophisticated crooks potentially costing companies millions.
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We caught up with the Warwickshire company helping to tackle today’s cyber criminals.
INTELLECTUAL property theft and computer misuse are fast becoming the big issues in today’s corporate world, http://www.intaforensics.com/private-business.htm.
And computer forensics, http://www.intaforensics.com/computer-forensics.htm, - examining digital media to establish factual information for civil or criminal matters - is playing an increasingly important role in battling it.
Nuneaton-based IntaForensics has tapped into the niche market and is one of fewer than 20 companies in the country helping businesses fight the criminals.
Andrew Frowen, director of forensics at the company, said increasing use of digital technology had led to a surge in business.
“Because of this, what we’ve found is computer systems are involved in most types of criminal investigations, including mobile phones and satellite navigation,” he said.
“Putting a crime together is a lot easier nowadays than it was many years ago and, for corporates, the biggest problem is intellectual property theft.
“It’s a niche marketplace. Not only do you need to be an expert in computing but you need to be expert in forensic processes.”
He said that with the advent of computer memory sticks it was easier for would-be criminals to copy sales data of entire companies and other intellectual property deemed commercially sensitive.
“We analyse them to try and find any evidence like any ex-employee or soon-to-be ex-employee stealing anything from the corporate network to set up in competition,” he said.
“We’ve got 200 or 300 legal clients we have worked for over the last couple of years on cases ranging from intellectual property theft to computer misuse and high level fraud.”
IntaForensics set up in 2006, handling one case, which increased to 250 cases last year and 120 to date this year.
The company, which has satellite offices in London and Leeds, also works with police forces in Warwickshire and Leicestershire. Operating covertly or highly visible to company employees to act as a deterrent, the team strips out hard drives and takes forensic images of them.
It analyses the images created instead of working on the original source and experts sift through the information to prove or disprove an allegation.
Mr Frowen said: “Companies are now more aware of the value of computer systems and data and most companies now base their business on media and communications. Normal computer misuse inside the workplace is a big issue.
“Companies protect themselves on the edge of the network - connection to the internet - but internal monitoring is a problem.
“We can track back internet history from the day the computer system was switched on. Even if you think you can delete it, computer forensics can track the whole lot. We are based on results and that’s what keeps us coming into work.”
IntaForensics Relocate
After weeks of organising, contract signing, research and hard work IntaForensics have successfully relocated to their new offices. The plan was to close half day on Friday the 21st December 2007 and for the business to be fully up and running on Wednesday 2nd January 2008. We are all glad to say that the move was carried out with the same planning and organisation that IntaForensics provide to their clients for all Mobile Phone and Computer Forensic Examinations; time efficient, cost efficient and the outcome is nothing short of fantastic.
The new office space is four times the size of our previous this will enable the business to grow further and allow IntaForensics the space to recruit new members to the team.
We would like to welcome our latest member Zoe, who has joined IntaForensics as an Administrator.
IntaForensics present at Advanced Financial Crime Prevention - Hong Kong
Andrew Frowen, IntaForensics Director, was asked to present a full day of training under the title of Electronic Threat. The topics Andrew discussed were Computer Threats, Investigative Methodolgy, Computer Evidence, Prevention and Detection and a live demonstration of Computer Forensics. The audience thoroughly enjoyed the presentation and were kept actively involved by Mr Frowen though the use of interactive class materials. For further information regarding Forensic training offered by IntaForensics can be found at http://www.intaforensics.com/forensics-training.htm
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IntaForensics sponsor Yorkshire Lawyer Awards 2007
IntaForensics were proud to be asked to be a sponsor for this year’s Yorkshire Lawyer Awards. This award recognises the outstanding legal talent in Yorkshire and was held at Ripley Castle. Lawyers attended the awards from all over the county, and the sheer quantity of attendees showed the popularity and significance of the awards to everyone involved. IntaForensics attended the ceremony and thoroughly enjoyed the night; so much so that we have decided to sponsor the event again for 2008, with the hope to see what talent the county of Yorkshire has to offer.
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