Everyone’s so caught up these days in computer forensics and forensic science to solve murder mysteries like those seen on the TV series CSI. But computer forensics is not all murder and police drama. There are far more necessary reasons for those in this particular industry, and a very interesting case has come up recently involving the company Nintendo.

After noticing a recent news article from Australia, I was surprised to find that a US and Japanese based video game company was bringing a law suit forth to an Australian man who violated international and US and Australian copyright laws. After an Australian game store accidentally released the new Super Mario Brothers game for their Wii system six days before Nintendo had scheduled a global release, a 24 year old Australian named James Burt broke through the game’s code and illegally uploaded the game to the internet, allowing thousands to download the game illegally onto their own computers without paying Nintendo any money. This perhaps cost Nintendo millions of dollars.

So how did Nintendo track down Mr. Burt from the hundreds of millions of computer users across the world, to the millions in Australia, to those in his area, to find out that he was the one who illegally uploaded the game? They used computer forensics specialists, trained to trace the tracks of Internet usage to find the source of the uploaded games.

Nintendo’s forensic specialists, trained in top computer forensics programs, were able to trace all downloads of the game, starting from the beginning. Once the original download was found, the upload was traced by time and IP address. Using computer forensics tracking programs, Mr. Burt’s IP address was matched with his location and he was apprehended by local law enforcement.

The next step for the computer forensics specialists was to present the information and evidence they were able to uncover during their investigation to the lawyers and judge in the courts, where Mr. Burt was found guilty of illegally uploading property belonging to Nintendo, and distributing it without Nintendo’s consent. The courts in Australia found Mr. Burt liable for $1.3 million USD toward Nintendo’s lost earnings. Additionally, $100,000 of Nintendo’s accrued legal fees were also designated to be paid by the defendant.

If it weren’t for the expert specialists working for Nintendo, the company would not have been able to locate the defendant and most likely would not have been able to recoup the millions of dollars in lost revenue. Proof that computer forensics and forensic science is not all murder and mystery, but used every day to solve all types of modern-day crimes and investigations.

Are you the person in your family that is most interested in piecing together all the information about your ancestors? If so, you will be happy to know that there are many resources that are available to help. Today the use of the Internet for searching many sources is a great tool. The benefits allow you to find records that may have been impossible to find in the past.

Whether you view this as a hobby or are a serious historian, the search for your ancestors is much easier today. Only a few years ago, the only resources you would have had access to were limited. Today there are so many people interested in tracing their roots that the Internet will be a great resource for a lot of the information you are seeking.

Other branches of your family may have their family trees started online and this is an excellent source. Searching your last name on genealogy sites is one way of finding out if someone else has been looking for ancestors that would be of interest to you.

As the family historian there are several methods you can use to find more information online. Census records are more readily available online today as well as public records. The ability to search between different countries is another asset that is becoming a part of the Internet thus making it easier to find relatives.

Instigating a search for your relatives will mean you have to be able to document what you find. The best way of doing this is to start your own online family tree. This will allow you to keep all the information you find together and organized for viewing. Your family will be interested in seeing what you have found, so a family tree is going to be essential.

Letting distant relatives know you are putting together a history of your family can be beneficial as well. They can share what they know or may have been told by grandparents and parents so this gives you more information to research. Being the family historian is a difficult job, but you will find it is rewarding when you find a bit of information that was not previously known.

The origination of your last name is another way you can search. Finding others with the same last name opens up all new possibilities for relatives and if it is an unusual last name, this is even more important. The chances that you are related to others with this last name are pretty good.

When searching for your ancestors, do not let it become so overwhelming that you feel like giving up. The many resources available via the Internet include downloadable forms for virtually every aspect of recording the information you find.

Keeping everything you find organized will help you to put together a family tree. All the information and where you find it can be documented so you will not waste time going back to the same sources. As the family historian you will be the keeper of all this information, so put it together in an organized way so future generations will be able to view it as well as present relatives.

Sherri D. Smith invites you to create your own unique family tree. With a name like Smith, she knows the tricks, tips, techniques and the best ways to build your family tree online. For your free mini-course, 10 Tips To Unearthing Your Family History, visit http://www.genealogyresourcecenter.com.

In this high-tech world, communication is done 99.999% via electronic gadgetry, which means computers. From personal to corporate communications, from simple messages between employees to complicated ciphers of industrial espionage or financial crime, computers are the vehicles. Thus the best place to find evidence of employee misdemeanor in almost all aspects is to check his computer hard disk. Whether it is a refurbished computer, a used computer or a new computer, traces of what he did using the machine may be analyzed to establish whether he committed malfeasance or not. This field of post facto computer analysis is called computer forensics.

Every computer records all keystrokes performed in the machine, since it must respond to them as instructions. This record is normally stored in the disk in various locations though most may be automatically deleted as part of the operating system methodologies. But analysis of computer disks normally reveals traces of these, especially the deleted items that have not yet been overwritten by new information. Deletion of information in any program simply means the computer will not access it, but it does not go away unless overwritten, and may be ‘read’ by specialized gadgets to reveal what was thought to be already eliminated.

There are two general reasons for computer forensics: when an employee is suspected of misbehavior in keeping company information confidential during his tenure; and if an employee is thought of under performance, not devoting his full time to his work. In the first instance, the computer may be confidentially examined after the employee has left without anyone being the wiser; but in the second instance, periodic computer inspection is the only way to identify goldbricking employees without adversely affecting employee morale. Otherwise, spying on the employee will be the alternative, either via electronic gadgets or actual spies.

Information obtainable by forensics gadgets include:

1. Files or parts of files that have been deleted but not overwritten. As stated above, the magnetic arrangement for the information stays as is unless rearranged by new keystrokes.

2. List of deleted file titles even without the files. This may indicate the use of unsanctioned or unofficial applications.

3. Websites visited, at any browser setting, even if deleted from browser history. Normally recorded in hidden files or unused disk space and readable in whole or remnants.

4. Opened or downloaded Internet information or graphics. Same with the preceding.

5. Non-standard applications or software used.

6. Residual information in the temporary files, saved or not. Usually the most recent work.

7. Hidden information or those protected by passwords. The applications used can crack the passwords or go beyond them.

Corporate studies indicate that about 20% of employee computer time at work is devoted to activities not directly connected to the work, and this is grossly unfair to the employer. Employee monitoring is thus a way of ensuring correct employee conduct, but there is also such a thing as employee morale and right to privacy. The trick is getting and keeping a balance between the two rights, and computer forensics is simply a way to do it.

Connor Sullivan been searching online for a refurbished computer that his son can take to college. He purchased a used computer to use in his office.