OF&A :: Computer Crime Analysts

Computer Crime Analysts

COMPUTER CRIME ANALYSTS

At the first computer crime workgroup in the United States of America, the FBI stated that by the year 2010 computer-related crime will be the most uncontrollable crime to investigate.

Computer-related crimes range from 'hacking' into systems, and installing viruses to using pirated software.

OF&A, in an effort to combat the rise in computer crime and fraud, has extended its range of expertise to include a division specialising in computer crime. South Africa lays claim to only two expert court witnesses and one of the two is part of the OF&A computer crime division.

"Over the last two years, OF&A has seen more and more confidential data at risk because of computer criminals, commonly known as hackers," says Ockie Fourie. "We are combining our highly-developed investigative skills with more technology-orientated ones to tackle this type of crime head-on."

'Hacking' into computer systems is one of the most common crimes investigated by OF&A's
computer crime division.

The areas which are addressed and dealt with by the computer crime division include:

Fraud
Child pornography
Hacking
Industrial espionage
Viruses
Sabotage
Theft
Copy-writing
Forensic auditing investigations

Proactive

Assisting clients in procedures
User-awareness
Physical IT security

Reactive

Assisting clients in identifying problems
Assisting clients in the formulation of reports
Appearing as expert witnesses
Forensic auditing investigation

To date, no formal legislation has been passed regarding computer-related crimes in South Africa. However, lobbying to the government is currently in progress with the hopes that by next year, a law will be passed to make it a criminal offence to commit a computer crime, be it hacking into another system or installing a virus within a system.