As information technology becomes a part of our life, the number of crimes involving computer and information technology surges. To crack cases, police, legal practitioners and IT specialists are facing the pressing need to enhance their knowledge of gathering digital evidence, directly stimulating the demand for circumspect, erudite forensics experts to take up the challenge. Have you ever thought of being one?

Michael Kwan (right), Council member of ISFS, is one of the programme lecturers who has extensive experience in digital forensic and combating computer crime.

What is digital forensics?
Inadequate security measures may make an information system vulnerable to hackers and computer crimes; law-enforcers would then need various digital forensic technologies to identify, preserve, analyse and manage digital evidence, like the browsing history, and to guarantee that the evidence has legal effect to assist prosecution. Employing these technologies, digital forensics experts ensure that the evidence gathering and forensic processes are complied with the stringent legal and prosecution requirements, and important materials will not be dismissed as evidence or even be destructed. Accessing files in a computer used in a crime would be a typical case where the conventional way to copy files would alter some important data, such as the file access time, and may impede the prosecution. It therefore requires a digital forensics expert with the expertise and professional skills to handle this kind of evidence.

Digital forensics experts
The Postgraduate Diploma in IT Forensics programme, offered by the School in conjunction with the Information Security and Forensics Society (ISFS), aims to equip students with a comprehensive range of technological and legal knowledge, covering the application of forensic tools to gather, preserve and analyse evidence, the commercial application of information technology, e-commerce and related regulations, computer crimes, and forensic report writing. Senior solicitors from the Department of Justice experienced in handling e-crime cases are invited to analyse real cases and set up a mock court exercises for students to practise giving evidence as an expert witness.

This programme is primarily designed for degree-holders or those with at least five years of professional work experience. It also presents a good opportunity for self-enhancement to those with relevant qualifications in information technology, e-commerce and audit, or those engaging in the legal industry or law enforcement. Since forensics experts would have to write reports and give evidence in court, students should have good language and communication skills. In addition to joining ISFS, graduates can work as crime laboratory analysts or forensic engineers, assisting legal organisations or enterprises in gathering and analysing evidence, or giving evidence in hearings on computer crime in the capacity of digital forensics expert. They can also join the business sector to participate in information technology system audit.

Information Seminar