Social networking websites such as Facebook and MySpace are becoming very popular throughout the world.
As such social networking and instant messaging has become an integral part of digital forensic investigations. Analysis of this data can aid an investigation in a number of ways.
It may be possible to prove / disprove an alibi by placing a user at a computer using social networking forensics.
Again it may also be possible to use the contents of communications between users to support/refute allegations against a defendant.

There are a large number of social networking websites and instant messaging clients which can be investigated.

A non-exhaustive list would include:

- Facebook
- MySpace
- Bebo
- Twitter
- MSN Messenger
- Windows Live Messenger
- Yahoo Messenger
- Google Hello
- mIRC (Internet Relay Chat)


Often individuals will be members of multiple social networking services.  At Sytech we offer a service whereby an individual’s social networking footprint is profiled.
This includes the identification of an individual’s accounts (or screen names) for social networking websites they are members of and an amalgamation of data being shared on these websites.