Forensic Services · Empire Investigation · Pittsburgh, PA
Computer Forensics
Forensic imaging, deleted-file recovery, and digital evidence analysis for litigation, internal investigations, and fraud matters across Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania.
Computer forensics is the disciplined science of preserving, recovering, and analyzing digital evidence from desktops, laptops, servers, and removable media in a manner that withstands legal scrutiny. Empire Investigation LLC has been performing forensic computer analysis for Pittsburgh attorneys, corporations, and private clients as part of our investigative practice since 1982 — 44 years of evolving with the technology, from floppy-disk recovery to modern SSD imaging and cloud-data preservation.
Most computer forensic engagements begin the same way: a client suspects something — an employee deleted files before leaving, a spouse erased browser history, a former partner copied a customer database to a thumb drive, a fraud incident produced inconsistencies that need to be reconstructed. What clients often don't realize is that 'deleted' rarely means gone. Files, fragments, metadata, USB-device history, browser activity, chat logs, and timestamps frequently remain recoverable from drive free space for months or years after a user believes they've been erased.
We perform forensic imaging using write-blocked acquisition that preserves an exact bit-for-bit copy of the source media. All analysis happens on the forensic image, never the original drive, preserving evidence integrity and chain of custody for litigation. Reports are written for legal use and our investigators have testified in Pennsylvania state and federal court. Whether the matter is corporate, civil, or domestic, Empire Investigation provides defensible digital evidence at every stage.
Forensic Imaging and Chain of Custody
Every engagement starts with a write-blocked forensic image of the source media — a complete bit-for-bit copy that preserves deleted data, slack space, and unallocated areas. Chain of custody is documented from the moment we take possession of the device. The original media is never altered. Analysis is performed exclusively on verified forensic copies, allowing findings to stand up in court and in regulatory proceedings.
Deleted File and Artifact Recovery
Deletion rarely removes data — it simply marks space as available for reuse. Until that space is overwritten, deleted files, emails, photos, documents, and chat logs are often recoverable in whole or in part. We also recover registry artifacts, USB-device connection history, recent-file lists, internet history, and timestamped metadata that reconstructs user activity over weeks or months.
Data Recovery Investigation for Fraud and Litigation
In fraud cases, employment disputes, divorce, and intellectual property theft, the digital trail is often the strongest evidence available. We reconstruct what files were copied to external drives, what was emailed where, what was deleted and when, and which user accounts were active during specific timeframes. Findings are presented in a non-technical written report suitable for attorneys, executives, and lay juries.
Coordination with Counsel and Privilege
Most engagements are run under attorney direction so that work product enjoys appropriate privilege protection. Empire Investigation works directly with Pittsburgh litigation counsel, corporate general counsel, and HR leadership, and we coordinate scope, preservation orders, and disclosure timing as the matter requires.
What We Look For
- Deleted file, email, photo, and document recovery from PCs and laptops
- Forensic imaging of hard drives, SSDs, and external media
- USB-device connection history (what was plugged in, when, and what was copied)
- Browser history, search history, and cached internet artifacts
- Chat logs, social-media activity, and messaging artifacts
- Timestamp and metadata analysis to reconstruct user activity
- Expert reports and courtroom testimony in PA state and federal court
Frequently Asked Questions
Confidential Inquiry
Schedule a Confidential TSCM Sweep
If you suspect surveillance or want to verify your environment is secure, professional detection is the only way to know with certainty.
All inquiries handled with complete discretion.