Computer forensics

A new computer forensics company is making a big splash in Tulsa. They can recover all kinds of information from computers, cell phones and digital cameras, even information you thought was deleted.

Friday, July 22nd 2005, 11:09 am

By: News On 6

A new computer forensics company is making a big splash in Tulsa. They can recover all kinds of information from computers, cell phones and digital cameras, even information you thought was deleted.

Finding this kind of information for businesses, police and lawyers is the wave of the future. News on 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright explains these are not computer geeks, but computer gurus.

"This has holes drilled in it, three holes, we can still get 97 percent of the information off it, even if you've erased it a couple of times." Lori Fullbright: "Really?" Gavin Manes with OK Digital Forensics Professionals has created a company that is wonderful for businesses, police and lawyers but, scary for anyone doing something they shouldn't on a computer.

Digital forensics is the act of doing computer investigations and Gavin and his team can retrieve information that's someone has deleted or even destroyed. "It's going to be a huge deal. I have two to three gigabytes of information on me right now. I have a cell phone with a memory card and we have so many electronic devices and lawyers will want to seize that information and collect it. Even digital cameras. You delete a picture and it might not be gone."

Every case will soon have a digital component, which means companies can find out if you've been looking at porn on company time or police can learn if you've been stalking someone in cyberspace. Judges are increasingly allowing digital information just like paper evidence and this company provides not only the expertise to find that information but, to testify about it in court.

And Tulsa is near and dear to their hearts. "We're all from the University of Tulsa and plan to hire grads from there in our future years."

The forensic professionals say shows like CSI are still more Hollywood than reality, but, their work is as cutting edge as you can get and they plan to keep it sharpened for years to come. ODFP just moved into the Mid-Continent Building in downtown Tulsa.

The company is currently educating lawyers and judges in the art of using digital evidence.