Digital Evidence Collection in Electronic Discovery

Data Discovery and Hard Drive Analysis

Deleted Data Elimination

Electronic Document Retention Policy Consulting

 

Digital Evidence Collection in Electronic Discovery

Litigation in today's world involves evidence stored in computers and computer networks. The tremendous amount of electronic evidence involved in civil and criminal litigation necessitates that your digital evidence be handled in a forensically sound manner to avoid inadvertent loss of data or spoliation of evidence. 

McGovern & Greene LLP computer forensic technologists utilize an examination protocol that was originally developed for law enforcement and has become the industry standard. Our methodology identifies, preservers and extracts magnetically encoded evidence from computer storage medium. Using a variety of methods and processes, we are able to search the data for evidence that maybe relevant to your case or investigation. The findings are then documented using legally accepted methods and procedures.

 

Data Discovery and Hard Drive Analysis

Once digital evidence has been obtained in a forensically sound manner, our computer forensic technologists can begin to determine the relevance of the digital information as it relates to your case even in instances where:

• Data has been intentionally or accidentally deleted
• File names have been changed or disguised
• The computer hard drive has been reformatted
• Computer files have been password protected or hidden
  

 

Deleted Data Elimination

Business professionals that are entrusted with confidential corporate information are unaware that sensitive information "spills" over into areas on a computer hard drive such as file slack, swap files and unallocated space. Deleted files or remnants of a deleted file can be transferred to others without the user knowledge. The simple process of e-mailing a Word document to a co-worker or business associate reveals information called "meta-data" that can be potentially useful during the discovery phase of litigation.

McGovern & Greene LLP computer forensic technologists offer the ability to securely eliminate all traces of deleted files from your computers without affecting the function of the licensed software applications installed on your computer. 

 

Electronic Document Retention Policy Consulting

Outdated e-mails, old electronic spreadsheets and documents and archived data stored on backup tapes are sometimes kept for months or years past their useful lives. Current case law is revealing that unwieldy preservation of all electronic data and documents that are created in the normal course of business operations have the potential to haunt a corporation when a lawsuit is filed.