We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Education

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is a Computer Forensics Consultant?

By Brandi L. Brown
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 3,675
Share

A computer forensics consultant is someone who examines computer-related crime issues and then participates in legal proceedings to share his or her findings. Forensics involves using science to investigate crimes, and many computer forensics consultants spend a good portion of their work life in court, though that is not true for everyone in the field. Instead, a computer forensics consultant may have a wide-ranging list of responsibilities, including recovering damaged data, tracking information passed over networks and analyzing security gaps in private systems.

Recovering damaged data makes up the bulk of the computer forensics consultant’s work. Hard drives damaged in fires or liquid spills need careful attention to recover any data that is still on them. Forensic analysts also may work on cell phones, portable storage drives and other computer-related equipment to try to find any information still available. Private companies use computer consultants for this work because of the potential financial loss stemming from missing records, but government agencies also often need this work completed to track and prosecute crimes.

As information passes over the Internet or even through a single machine, electronic records left behind create a trail of transactions and moves. People who are committing crimes often go to great lengths to keep others from finding the information relevant to their computer maneuvers. Forensic analysts work to recover lost electronic records and find out how to track computer usage. This information is useful primarily in a court setting, where the computer forensics consultant tries to demonstrate through his or her testimony that the person on trial did or did not commit the crime in question.

All systems have security gaps, and these gaps keep computer forensic consultants in business. Private-sector consultants work to find security problems to help their clients. Those clients will pay money to consultants to find any backdoor holes in firewalls and other likely security lapses. To some degree, computer consultants who work in this field get paid to hack into other systems. The idea is that hiring someone to find these problems so they can be repaired will prevent someone with malicious intent from finding the problems and doing damage.

From a public perspective, the role of a computer forensics consultant is to use knowledge about the Internet and computers in general to find the people who committed crimes. Forensics analysts typically have a bachelor’s degree and professional certifications in information security. While computer forensics consultants may face tedious days of work, they also do work that often benefits the public.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-computer-forensics-consultant.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.