Cyber Forensics

Cyber forensics is an up and coming field which studies information systems and methodology in reconstructing data drives. The studies done in cyber forensics help law enforcement track down and charge cyber criminals, such as internet pedophiles. Many criminals will try and destroy or wipe their data from computers before being caught by the cops, but is that enough? In theory, the only for sure way to destroy a hard drive is to destroy it using thermite plasma, an extremely hot and corrosive liquid-like substance. Since thermite plasma is so expensive, other measures must be taken. For example, when the NSA(National Security Association) wishes to destroy a data drive, they write over the drive seven times, take the drive and drop it in a wood chipper, take those pieces and burn them, take the ashes and mix them with concrete and use it in the roads. Even then, they are not sure the data is destroyed, so two armed guards watch over the road until the cement dries. In theory, and in fact the NSA has done this many times, someone can reconstruct that data drive atom by atom using an electron microscope and recover all of the data. With this going on, how can anyone know they are safe?! The information age, however awesome, can be ridiculously scary.

Just a thought,

Jack Carroll