The challenge: As part of a complex investigation on behalf of a law firm, one of our forensic investigator clients requested our assistance comparing three company websites. The mandate required research into technical aspects of website hosting and registration, as well as detailed analysis of the web content. Having worked with us closely in the past, our investigative client brought this unusual request straight to us because of our diverse technical skill set and our problem-solving approach.
We applied a rigorous, thorough and systematic approach to the investigation. Firstly, we preserved the three websites, and using a forensic gathering tool we collected all the web content and related links using pdf page acquisition.
Secondly, we investigated the web hosting, registration, build and other technical website elements. Employing expertise from his background in web design, one of our team drew on his experience and a variety of different sources and web tools to establish a comprehensive picture of the set-up of each site.
Thirdly, using a suite of different tools, our forensic analysis experts reviewed the structure of the websites, commonality between links from and to all three sites, as well as detailed review of exact or near content duplication by processing the pdf pages (and relevant associated media files) through Reveal to identify areas of similarity.
Our findings were presented in a robust and thorough written report which was used to inform the outcome of our client’s investigation. We were able to draw on our diverse skills and years of experience collecting and reviewing data to ensure we employed the best combination of tools and conducted the thorough investigation with precision and detail.
There is no set formula or methodology to follow in such cases and we were chosen for the job because of our client’s confidence in our problem-solving and data forensic analysis capabilities. If you’ve got an unusual data comparison conundrum, we’d love to talk! We’ve got years of experience applying our forensic knowledge to our clients’ investigative and litigation challenges, and relish the opportunity to apply the range of tools and expertise at our disposal to help get to the truth. Get in touch.
