Private Investigators Must Understand Computers and Technology
Several types of investigators need a deep understanding of computers and technology due to the increasing integration of digital systems into everyday life and the growing sophistication of cybercrime. Here are some key types:
- Digital Forensics Analysts: These professionals are experts in recovering and analyzing data from digital devices to investigate crimes and cyberattacks. They need to understand various operating systems, networks, and hardware.
- Cybersecurity Analysts/Investigators: They focus on protecting systems against cyber threats, identifying breaches, and investigating cyberattacks. A deep understanding of network architecture, encryption, and cybersecurity practices is essential.
- Fraud Investigators (especially in financial technology): These investigators need to understand complex financial software, online transaction systems, and methods of digital fraud to track and analyze fraudulent activities.
- Law Enforcement Officers Specializing in Cybercrimes: Officers and agents in this category investigate crimes ranging from unauthorized access (hacking) to online fraud and cyberstalking. Knowledge of the internet, networking, and computer systems is crucial.
- Intelligence Analysts: Working in national security or for intelligence agencies, these professionals must understand various technologies to gather, analyze, and interpret information from digital sources, including the dark web and encrypted communications.
- Corporate Investigators: Many corporations hire investigators to investigate internal issues such as data breaches, intellectual property theft, or espionage. These investigators need a solid grasp of IT infrastructure and data analysis tools.
- Private Investigators (P.I.s) Specializing in Digital Investigations: While traditional P.I.s might focus on physical surveillance or background checks, those specializing in digital investigations must understand social media, email tracing, and online databases.
- Incident Responders and Threat Hunters are specialized roles within cybersecurity. They focus on responding to breaches and actively searching for potential threats within a network. Deep technical knowledge of networks, malware, and hacker tactics is required.
Each of these roles requires a blend of technical skills, including, but not limited to, computer science, information systems, and cybersecurity, as well as a keen understanding of the legal and ethical implications of their work. Given the rapid evolution of technology and cyber threats, continuous education is crucial to these professions.
List of Computer Terms including technology, internet, and more
Following is a list of computer terms you might encounter in a computer forensic investigation, along with a short description. This list will continue to grow over time.
Algorithm—An algorithm is a set of rules that solves a problem or answers a question. For example, Google uses a complex search algorithm to rate and rank sites in its search results.
Amiga OS – Amiga OS was the proprietary native operating system of the Amiga and AmigaOne personal computers. It was developed first by Commodore International.
Application – A computer program. Small applications that run on mobile devices are called apps, short for applications.
Artifact (Digital Artifact): An object of interest on a digital device, such as a file, log entry, or registry key, that provides evidence of user activity.
ASCII – American Standard Code for Information Exchange
ATM—ATM is an acronym that stands for Asynchronous Transfer Mode. It is a switching technique that encodes data into cells of fixed size.
Authentication – the process of establishing or confirming a user’s identity. Authentication is usually associated with the login process.
Backup—A copy of a file or files created in case something happens to the original. Backups restore files if the originals are damaged, deleted, or inaccessible.
Bandwidth – The amount of data that can travel over a network.
BASIC – Beginners’ All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code. A programming language.
Boot—To turn on or start an electronic device or computer. It is also sometimes called “booting up.”
Browser—Also known as a web browser, it is software used to read web pages and other web-based content. View a list of the most popular web browsers.
Cache: A temporary storage area that stores frequently accessed data for quick retrieval. Browser cache, for example, can reveal websites a user has visited.
CD-ROM (Compact Disc—Read-Only Memory)—This is a form of storage in which the data and information stored on the disc can be read but not manipulated or changed.
Chain of Custody: The chronological documentation showing the seizure, custody, control, transfer, analysis, and disposition of evidence. It’s a critical legal concept to ensure the integrity of evidence.
CMS – Content Management System.
COBOL – Stands for Common Oriented Business Language. It was the first standardized computer programming language.
Cookie—A cookie is a small file saved to a user’s computer as they browse certain websites. The file stores information that helps websites recognize you on further visits. Cookies can also be used to track your browsing activity (known as tracking cookies).
Cloud computing is when a company uses a network of servers stored on the Internet to store, manage, and process data.
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is used to develop web pages.
Data Center – In its simplest terms, a data center is a centralized location for storing data and information. The data and information are stored on a vast array of server computers.
Encryption is the process of encoding information, such as a message or file, to make it unreadable if intercepted.
Exif Data (Exchangeable image file format): Metadata found within image files. It can include the camera model, date, time, and GPS coordinates where the photo was taken.
File System: The method and data structure that an operating system uses to control how data is stored and retrieved. Common examples are NTFS (Windows), HFS+ (Mac), and FAT32 (older Windows/removable drives).
Firewall – A firewall is a mechanism that protects a host computer from unauthorized access.
Forensic Image: A bit-for-bit, identical copy of a piece of digital media, such as a hard drive. It allows investigators to work on a copy without altering the original evidence.
Google Chrome OS – Google Chrome OS is based on the Linux kernel and designed by Google to work with web and installed applications. Chrome is quickly gaining popularity due to its speed, stability, and ease of use. It is also less often targeted by hackers and scammers.
GUI—GUI is an acronym for Graphical User Interface. It refers to a computer’s visual interface, including screens, designs, layout, buttons, menus, etc.
Hard Drive – A hard drive, also known as a hard disk, is a storage device that stores and retrieves digital information.
Hashing (e.g., MD5, SHA-256): An algorithm that produces a unique, fixed-size digital fingerprint of a file or piece of data. It’s used to verify that data has not been altered.
HTML – Hypertext Markup Language
IP Address (Internet Protocol Address): A unique numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication.
Java – A programming language developed by Sun Microsystems
JavaScript – Based on the Java programming language. Use to create interactive web pages.
Keyboard – An input device to type characters, numbers, symbols, and commands.
Keys – The individual components of the keyboard.
Linux – Linux is an open-source operating system modeled on UNIX.
Log Files: Files that record events, errors, and user activities that occur on an operating system or within a software application.
Microsoft Windows—Currently active Windows operating systems include Windows 8 and 10. Windows runs on more computers worldwide than any other operating system, so private eyes must be familiar with it for computer forensics-related investigations.
MAC Address (Media Access Control Address): A unique identifier assigned to a network interface controller (NIC) for communications at the data link layer of a network segment.
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based graphical interface operating systems developed and marketed by Apple.
Malware: Short for “malicious software,” it is a broad term for any software intentionally designed to disrupt a computer, server, client, or computer network.
Metadata: Data that provides information about other data. For a file, this could include the author, creation date, and last-modified date.
Mouse – A device that is used to operate a computer.
Mouse Pad – A desktop pad that makes moving the mouse easier.
Netiquette – Netiquette is short for “internet etiquette. In general, it refers to using good behavior on the internet. For example, typing messages in ALL CAPS is considered bad behavior, equivalent to yelling.
Operating System – In computing, an operating system (OS) is an interface between hardware and the user. The operating system is responsible for managing and coordinating activities and sharing the resources of a computer that acts as a host for computing applications running on the machine. One of the primary purposes of an operating system is to manage resource allocation and protect hardware access. This relieves the application programmers from having to manage these details.
OSINT – Open Source Intelligence.
Phishing: A cybercrime in which a target is contacted by email, telephone, or text message by someone posing as a legitimate institution to lure individuals into providing sensitive data.
RAM (Random Access Memory): Also known as volatile memory, this is the computer’s short-term data storage. It’s wiped clean when the computer is turned off, but it can contain valuable evidence while the machine is running.
Reboot – To restart a computer or other device. Also, a restart.
Registry (Windows Registry): A hierarchical database that stores low-level settings for the Microsoft Windows operating system and for applications that opt to use the registry.
Runtime Error – A runtime error is an error that occurs when a program is running.
Slack Space: The unused space in a disk cluster. This space can contain data from previously deleted files.
Solid-State Drive (SSD): A storage device that uses flash memory to store data, differing from a traditional hard drive that uses spinning platters. Data recovery and forensics can be more complex on SSDs.
Steganography: The practice of concealing a file, message, image, or video within another file, message, image, or video.
Timestamp: A sequence of characters or encoded information identifying when a particular event occurred, giving the date and time of day.
Unallocated Space: The area of a hard drive that is not currently allocated to a file. Deleted files may reside in this space until they are overwritten.
Unix – Unix is a widely used multi-user operating system.
Web Page—A web page is an individual HTML page on a website. It may contain text, HTML markup, images, videos, and other types of content.
Wipe – Wipe means thoroughly cleaning all data and information off a computer.
Windows 95, 97, 99, NT, Vista – Windows is a computer operating system.
Write Blocker: A hardware or software tool that allows investigators to read data from a storage device without any risk of writing to or altering the device.
If you want to look up other technical terms and definitions, I recommend TechTerms. Also, check out our Private Detective Software and Apps.
What Do Private Investigators Need to Know?
Private detectives may need to be familiar with various operating systems for multiple reasons. First, they may specialize in forensic analysis of PCs or computer investigations. In this case, they must be familiar with the various systems for analyzing activity, tracking down malicious code, identifying errors, and gathering evidence.
Second, regardless of the types of investigations your business offers, you will undoubtedly run various operating systems on devices such as computers, tablets, and mobile devices. In this instance, private detectives should be familiar with how the system works to run their business most efficiently.
Please comment below if you have any questions about this list of computer terms.