You are here:

Computer Law/one more question

Advertisement

Expert: - 3/16/2008


Question
QUESTION: n the world of computer forensics, is it possible for a web  hosting service to
track/prove a certain computer or a certain account were accessed?  ie:  I
think that my husband has been tracking my whereabouts by logging onto
my personal Orbitz and or United Airlines Accts.  He has stalked to me
several national locations that he would otherwise have no knowledge of.  He
once did know my passwords to these accts. (all of which I have recently
changed) by since we have been separated.  If pressed can this sot of
forensics be done on accts like this, realizing it is quite an endeavor, and not
likely to ever be done, but for the threat of prosecution is it at all feasible.

ANSWER: Hi Heather,

It all depends on the company and how long they hold account information and logs.

Also you might be better off getting hold of his computer and checking it. I bet it would show your account info and that could be just as good if not better than the online stuff. It would show knowledge, opportunity and the tools needed to do the things you mention.

Be safe..

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks, what is the process to get someone's computer? Must charges be filed
first?  Would it be civil as well as criminal? Finally, once the charges were
brought is it me or the prosecutor that follows the case, could I have the ability
to drop the charges if he stopped stalking me?  Thanks!

Answer
Hi again Heather,

It requires that the charges be filed and the police investigator get a search warrant for the computer (which we do all the time in criminal cases). The prosecutor is the one that takes care of everything. You could try to drop charges if he stops at that point, but that does not mean that the States case would be dropped. They can still continue the case even if you do not want to press charges anymore.

Computer Law

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Chris Wagoner

Expertise

I can answer questions concerning Computer Crime Investigations and Internet investigations including Computer Crime Laws both at the State level and Federal level. I can answer questions on almost any crime in which a computer is used. In addition I can answer questions concerning copywrite infringement (peer to peer, and copying). I served as a police Commander and conducted and still conduct Computer Crime Investigations at the Local, State and Federal level. I have investigated all most any kind of crime with which or which involved a computer and the internet, from murders, kidnappings, extortion, drug dealing and more. I can answer questions concerning Computer Forensics (the art of recovering information from a suspects computer), Computer Crime Investigations and Internet Investigations. I am a Federally Court Recognized Expert in Computer Crime and Computer Forensics. I have worked in both Facebook and MySPace, also in Peer to Peer investigations. In addition I can answer questions concerning child predators and how to make your children safer on-line. I teach Computer Forensics, Internet Investigations, Peer to Peer Investigations and other computer crime related subjects for several colleges and the Institute of Police Technology and Management. My hobby webpage - Military Videos - http://www.youtube.com/user/3rdID8487

Experience

I conduct computer crime investigations in conjunction with the F.B.I., Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Gainesville Police Department, and University of Florida Police Department, Levi County Sheriff’s Office, Starke Police Department and other agencies in the North Florida Court District. I provide the forensic data recovery services for those agencies as well as internet tracing and information gathering. I am a Federal Court Certified Expert in Computer Crime Investigations and Forensics. I teach Computer Forensics for the University of North Florida, Institute of Police Technology and Management. I also teach Computer Crime courses for Tallahassee Community College, Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Training Center. Associate Instructor; teach Computer Crime courses thorough out the world for IPTM. Presently Teach Cyber Crime Investigations, Computer Crime Investigations and Computer Forensic Data Recovery Course.

Education/Credentials
2 Degrees in Criminal Justice, now teach college level Data Forensics classes

Awards and Honors
Awarded the FBI Directors Award for assisting the FBI in a National Computer Crime Investigation. Awarded Dec 2002

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.