Computer Forensic History: Tracing Its Beginnings

The term forensic science is often shortened by most people into simply "forensics". Whatever its coined name may be, the truth remains the same that forensics is an application which deals with the legal system.

Computer forensics is just among its many branches and it particularly expresses its use in line with the civil action or crime. Some very meticulous individuals will likely disagree as to the correctness of the use of "forensics" instead of "forensic science" since the first term is held to be a synonym for something that is related to the courts or any legal matter.

A part of computer forensic history will make mention about its meaning in Latin which is "prior to the forum". With the onset of several modern dictionaries, the name "forensics" equivalently points out to "forensic science". Let us dwell deeper and touch on some basic facts about computer forensic history.

Going Back to the Old Days

Forensic generally roots from a Latin word, "forensic" which means forum or discussion. In the reign of the Romans, any criminal who has been charged with a crime is presented before an assembly of public folks. Both of the complainant and the defendant are to present their sides through their own speeches.

The one who was able to explain his side with fervent delivery and argumentation typically won the case. That individual was referred to as one who was skilled in forensics

Forensic Science Historical Points

The earliest account of the employment of forensic science can be traced back to the renowned legend of Archimedes' "Eureka". He defined that a crown was not fully composed of gold by means of identifying its weight and displacement yet without creating any damage to it. More so, the most primitive trace of the use of fingerprint to institute one's identity was in the 7th century.

It was Soleiman, the Arabic merchant, who explained that the borrower's fingerprints were enjoined in the bill which was to be given out to the lender. As a proof, the bill was recognized as a legal validation of the existing debt.

Then again, the book entitled Xi Yuan Ji Lu or the Collected Cases of Injustice Rectified as written by Song Ci of the Song Dynasty tells of the instance when the case of a murdered person was resolved by one death investigator who directed all individuals to relocate his sickle in a particular location.

Then, the flies gathered onto the single sickle. With this, the murderer eventually confessed. Likewise, the book points out the examination of the presented evidence in order to distinguish if a death was a result of an accident, suicide, or murder.

Around the 16th century in Europe, the medical specialists in the university and army started studying the cause and method of a person's death. Notable personas dealt with the study of the internal organs and the changes in the human body structure as a result of diseases. Whereas, a demonstration of the use of proper procedure and logic was once depicted in the murder case of Edward Culshaw by John Toms of Lancaster, England.

Computer Forensics as a Discipline

Forensic science has a myriad of subdivisions. One of which is computer forensics. Otherwise known as digital forensics, this subdivision is the submission of the proven claims of scientific methods and strategies in the purpose of recovering lost data whether they have been purposefully or accidentally erased, from a digital or electronic media source. Computer forensics is applied both in the lab and in the field.

Computer forensics history tells of the account of this field's development and it explains the reason as to why this is much applicable for today. More so, crimes are helpfully solved through the process of computer forensics.