Microsoft Enters the World of Forensics

My book Compulsion focuses on some of the most violent crimes that take place in our society, like murder, rape, and pedophilia, and the evidence that is needed to capture the perpetrators. Emily Stone is a freelance detective who shows great expertise at finding the criminal operating in his element and then collecting the documentation that will bring him to justice. However, forensic material is not just essential to crimes of violence. Even acts in which no physical injury occurred can produce plenty of material for a forensic specialist to evaluate.

Microsoft has announced that they are partnering with the National White Collar Crime Center, based in West Virginia, to provide innovative technology that will be used in capturing evidence from the hard drives of computers. The tool, known as the Computer Online Forensic Evidence Extractor (COFEE), will be helpful in cases involving identity theft, online fraud, and child pornography. The program makes it easy for any police officer to recover evidence from a suspect’s computer, without the assistance of a digital forensic specialist. This is critical when time is of the essence in stopping further criminal activity or protecting people who may be in danger.

Microsoft’s development of COFEE is yet another reminder of the expansive nature of forensics. The field goes way beyond what typically comes to mind concerning what is collected from a crime scene investigation—fingerprints, bodily fluids, and weapons. And, I am constantly impressed with the new innovations in forensics. All of this great technology will help to ensure that the people who commit crimes are not able to walk due to lack of evidence and that those who have been wrongly accused are set free.