Comments on: Private Investigator License May Be Required for Computer Forensics http://pibuzz.com/2008/01/04/private-investigator-license-may-be-required-for-computer-forensics/ Private Investigator Blog - Public Records, Internet Search - PI Buzz Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:42:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Randy Andrews http://pibuzz.com/2008/01/04/private-investigator-license-may-be-required-for-computer-forensics/comment-page-1/#comment-422528 Randy Andrews Sat, 30 Jul 2011 07:46:23 +0000 http://pibuzz.com/2008/01/04/private-investigator-license-may-be-required-for-computer-forensics/#comment-422528 Computer Forensics was developed as a law enforcement tool. There are many people who can use computer forensic software, but they fall into the definition of an extractor and recovery practitioner. Recovery of information is only one part of Computer Forensics. Investigation of the recovered content is the primary focus of the recovery process. Forming an opinion as to the user activity, time stamps, relevant information connected to an inquiry is truly in the Investigative field. Confidentiality and responsible documentation is required and the Investigator is mandated by the licensing body to ensure confidentiality and accuracy. Large insurance policies are also required to cover acts and omissions of investigators. A client is entitled, as is the subject of the investigation, that a true and accurate account of his/her computer use is assured. If you snoop into the lives of people who face some form of discipline or criminal violation and you provide this service for money, then one needs to be a Law Enforcement officer, Attorney or Private Investigator. In house use of an employee to extract the information should not be included in the License requirement. An employee is not a contractor. Computer Forensics was developed as a law enforcement tool. There are many people who can use computer forensic software, but they fall into the definition of an extractor and recovery practitioner. Recovery of information is only one part of Computer Forensics. Investigation of the recovered content is the primary focus of the recovery process. Forming an opinion as to the user activity, time stamps, relevant information connected to an inquiry is truly in the Investigative field. Confidentiality and responsible documentation is required and the Investigator is mandated by the licensing body to ensure confidentiality and accuracy. Large insurance policies are also required to cover acts and omissions of investigators. A client is entitled, as is the subject of the investigation, that a true and accurate account of his/her computer use is assured. If you snoop into the lives of people who face some form of discipline or criminal violation and you provide this service for money, then one needs to be a Law Enforcement officer, Attorney or Private Investigator. In house use of an employee to extract the information should not be included in the License requirement. An employee is not a contractor.

]]> By: Aaron http://pibuzz.com/2008/01/04/private-investigator-license-may-be-required-for-computer-forensics/comment-page-1/#comment-421521 Aaron Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:53:39 +0000 http://pibuzz.com/2008/01/04/private-investigator-license-may-be-required-for-computer-forensics/#comment-421521 Wow, look at the propaganda from the unlicensed computer forensics people:  "only PI's are supporting licensing"  "The simple truth is that being a PI has very little to do with being in computer forensics..."  (Just from two commenters) Usually the unlicensed ones talk this way.  PI's support licensing.  Computer Forensics is by "legal definition" an investigation.    I know of many PI's who are computer forensics experts.  In one state the "founder of computer forensics" is a licensed PI, and he goes way back.  States support licensing.  Clients support licensing.  etc.  It's to protect the public, stupid, from the growing number of computer forensics fraudsters, incompetents, and more.  Geez, the fees being charged for computer forensics brings out the high tech coackroaches.  One guy in CA is now in prison after testifying several times as a computer forensics expert before his criminal history was discovered and false resume.  It is humorous how unlicensed computer forensics examiners or investigators, whatever they call themselves believe they are so special, so godlike that they are immune from licensing.  Ask a barber, lawyer, taxi driver, pilot, teacher, CPA, engineeer, doctor, and others why they are licensed.  Arrogance is one of the problems with computer geeks who think they can expand into civil and criminal high tech investigations without licensing. Wow, look at the propaganda from the unlicensed computer forensics people:  “only PI’s are supporting licensing”  ”The simple truth is that being a PI has very little to do with being in computer forensics…”  (Just from two commenters)

Usually the unlicensed ones talk this way.  PI’s support licensing.  Computer Forensics is by “legal definition” an investigation.    I know of many PI’s who are computer forensics experts.  In one state the “founder of computer forensics” is a licensed PI, and he goes way back.  States support licensing.  Clients support licensing.  etc.  It’s to protect the public, stupid, from the growing number of computer forensics fraudsters, incompetents, and more. 

Geez, the fees being charged for computer forensics brings out the high tech coackroaches.  One guy in CA is now in prison after testifying several times as a computer forensics expert before his criminal history was discovered and false resume. 

It is humorous how unlicensed computer forensics examiners or investigators, whatever they call themselves believe they are so special, so godlike that they are immune from licensing.  Ask a barber, lawyer, taxi driver, pilot, teacher, CPA, engineeer, doctor, and others why they are licensed.  Arrogance is one of the problems with computer geeks who think they can expand into civil and criminal high tech investigations without licensing.

]]> By: Anonymous http://pibuzz.com/2008/01/04/private-investigator-license-may-be-required-for-computer-forensics/comment-page-1/#comment-421334 Anonymous Wed, 20 May 2009 00:34:21 +0000 http://pibuzz.com/2008/01/04/private-investigator-license-may-be-required-for-computer-forensics/#comment-421334 Look around and notice that only PI's are supporting this legislation. Of course they are, it financially benefits them. Then read the opinions of those actually knowledgeable and qualified in this field. This is insane. http://www.secureworldexpo.com/events/conference-details.php?cid=2564 Look around and notice that only PI’s are supporting this legislation. Of course they are, it financially benefits them. Then read the opinions of those actually knowledgeable and qualified in this field. This is insane.

http://www.secureworldexpo.com/events/conference-details.php?cid=2564

]]> By: Me http://pibuzz.com/2008/01/04/private-investigator-license-may-be-required-for-computer-forensics/comment-page-1/#comment-421333 Me Wed, 20 May 2009 00:27:57 +0000 http://pibuzz.com/2008/01/04/private-investigator-license-may-be-required-for-computer-forensics/#comment-421333 These laws will do little to "professionalize" digital forensics and much to lower the qualified workforce in the states which implement such laws. The simple truth is that being a PI has very little to do with being in computer forensics. Computer forensics requires knowledge and a background in Information Systems. You can't bring in Rockford Files to analyze a drive and expect him to do anything but bungle it all up sideways. Putting a PI through a crash course in computers and digital forensics just isn't going to do anything but create a dangerous overconfidence. These laws will do little to “professionalize” digital forensics and much to lower the qualified workforce in the states which implement such laws. The simple truth is that being a PI has very little to do with being in computer forensics. Computer forensics requires knowledge and a background in Information Systems. You can’t bring in Rockford Files to analyze a drive and expect him to do anything but bungle it all up sideways. Putting a PI through a crash course in computers and digital forensics just isn’t going to do anything but create a dangerous overconfidence.

]]> By: Barbara http://pibuzz.com/2008/01/04/private-investigator-license-may-be-required-for-computer-forensics/comment-page-1/#comment-272807 Barbara Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:07:09 +0000 http://pibuzz.com/2008/01/04/private-investigator-license-may-be-required-for-computer-forensics/#comment-272807 How can I find out which state require licensing for out of state Computer Forensic companies? Thank you, Barbara How can I find out which state require licensing for out of state Computer Forensic companies?
Thank you,
Barbara

]]> By: Jeff Cully http://pibuzz.com/2008/01/04/private-investigator-license-may-be-required-for-computer-forensics/comment-page-1/#comment-260484 Jeff Cully Sat, 08 Mar 2008 20:49:50 +0000 http://pibuzz.com/2008/01/04/private-investigator-license-may-be-required-for-computer-forensics/#comment-260484 I am a PI in Washington State who is working on getting my PI license in Oregon as well to be able to work with insurance companies. Which as any of you who own/run an agency knows is a very hard field to get into. They insist on complete professional attitude and work product. With all the hoops that We as Investigation Agencies have to go through just to be able to practice are art, I think that it is only right and nessasary that ALL investigators NEED to be to have the proper documents for the state in which Investigators intend to work. The computer forensics is not that NEW. Its been around for many years now to where the industry has been so saturated with individuals who cash in on some NEW line of investigation that it has become "open season" for anyone who thinks that all they need to be able to do is get information form the computer. Computer Forensics must be held to the same standard as any Investigation Agency or Agent. At the same time if individuals want to "do" what those of us the are legitimate Agencies "do" without the proper licenses and insurance and have a non-professional attitude and work ethic, then by all means be our guest, because it only makes US who are working to make this industry as professional as possible look much much better. And WE will get the work and will get it done right. I am a PI in Washington State who is working on getting my PI license in Oregon as well to be able to work with insurance companies. Which as any of you who own/run an agency knows is a very hard field to get into. They insist on complete professional attitude and work product. With all the hoops that We as Investigation Agencies have to go through just to be able to practice are art, I think that it is only right and nessasary that ALL investigators NEED to be to have the proper documents for the state in which Investigators intend to work. The computer forensics is not that NEW. Its been around for many years now to where the industry has been so saturated with individuals who cash in on some NEW line of investigation that it has become “open season” for anyone who thinks that all they need to be able to do is get information form the computer. Computer Forensics must be held to the same standard as any Investigation Agency or Agent. At the same time if individuals want to “do” what those of us the are legitimate Agencies “do” without the proper licenses and insurance and have a non-professional attitude and work ethic, then by all means be our guest, because it only makes US who are working to make this industry as professional as possible look much much better. And WE will get the work and will get it done right.

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