Investigative Computer Forensics: The Practical Guide for Lawyers, Accountants, Investigators, and Business Executives

Investigative computer forensics is playing an increasingly important role in the resolution of challenges, disputes, and conflicts of every kind and in every corner of the world. Yet, for many, there is still great apprehension when contemplating leveraging these emerging technologies, preventing them from making the most of investigative computer forensics and its extraordinary potential to dissect everything from common crime to sophisticated corporate fraud.

Empowering you to make tough and informed decisions during an internal investigation, electronic discovery exercise, or while engaging the capabilities of a computer forensic professional, Investigative Computer Forensics explains the investigative computer forensic process in layman’s terms that users of these services can easily digest. Computer forensic/e-discovery expert and cybercrime investigator Erik Laykin provides readers with a cross section of information gleaned from his broad experience, covering diverse areas of knowledge and proficiency from the basics of preserving and collecting evidence through to an examination of some of the future shaping trends that these technologies are having on society.

Investigative Computer Forensics takes you step by step through:

• Issues that are present-day drivers behind the converging worlds of business, technology, law, and fraud
• Computers and networks―a primer on how they work and what they are
• Computer forensic basics, including chain of custody and evidence handling
• Investigative issues to know about before hiring a forensic investigator
• Managing forensics in electronic discovery
• How cyber-firefighters defend against cybercrime and other malicious online activity
• Emerging standards of care in the handling of electronic evidence
• Trends and issues affecting the future of the information revolution and society as a whole

Thoroughly researched and practical, Investigative Computer Forensics helps you―whether attorney, judge, businessperson, or accountant―prepare for the forensic computer investigative process, with a plain-English look at the complex terms, issues, and risks associated with managing electronic data in investigations and discovery.

ERIK LAYKIN, CHFI, CEDS, is a Managing Director of Duff & Phelps, LLC and was a cofounder of its Global Electronic Discovery and Investigations practice. He focuses on large-scale international corporate investigations and high-stakes litigation issues in which computer forensics and electronic discovery play a major role. Mr. Laykin is frequently appointed as an expert witness, independent neutral, or special master in federal and state courts and has served in an advisory capacity to hundreds of corporations, law firms, and government agencies in the U.S., Asia, and Europe. As an early pioneer in the computer forensics and cybercrime field, he regularly comments on these emerging technology and business issues at industry conferences and for the media, including CNN, Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS, major newspapers, and periodicals. Mr. Laykin is active in a variety of organizations including the HTCIA (High Technology Crime Investigation Association), FEWA (Forensic Expert Witness Association), ABA (American Bar Association), and is a past president (Los Angeles) and Pacific Rim director of the FBI's InfraGard Program.