Digital evidence—evidence that is stored on or transmitted by computers—can play a major role in a wide range of crimes, including homicide, rape, abduction, child abuse, solicitation of minors, child pornography, stalking, harassment, fraud, theft, drug trafficking, computer intrusions, espionage, and terrorism. The aim of this hands-on resource is to educate students and professionals in the law enforcement, forensic science, computer security, and legal communities about digital evidence and computer crime. This work explains how computers and networks function, how they can be involved in crimes, and how they can be used as a source of evidence. As well as gaining a practical understanding of how computers and networks function and how they can be used as evidence of a crime, readers will learn about relevant legal issues and will be introduced to deductive criminal profiling, a systematic approach to focusing an investigation and understanding criminal motivations. Readers will receive access to the author’s accompanying website which contains simulated cases that integrate many of the topics covered in the text. Frequently updated, these cases teaching individuals about:

• Abuse of computer networks
• Privacy and security issues on computer networks
• The law as it applies to computer networks
• Components of computer networks
• Use of computer networks in an investigation