Digital Profiling

The technological era is rife with new methods and ways to do nearly everything. A vast increase in productivity and improvements are made using computers and all known digital devices. Computer crime and cybercrime is on the rise due to accessibility to the world wide web and the underlying networks from any corner of the Globe. Simple daily tasks and numerous core facilities and infrastructure reside on this global digital data network. Digital Profiling (DP) is a means in which we can analyse and piece together a person’s interaction with this digital data network and produce the outputs of profiling, trend analysis, market statistics, behavioral analysis and apply all this data to the Digital Profile. This information is not only useful to computer crime investigators but anyone who can usefully interpret the data points. Remember each one of us (even those with zero involvement in criminal or suspect activities) all have a digital footprint. Digital profiling is a core part of the broader topic of Criminal Profiling (more information on this is available in earlier issues of DFM). Like all other profiling techniques, DP takes into account the characteristics, behaviours, interactions and other data points that pertain to an individual who interacts with any data source.