ComputerForensicsDigest.com

TR Media, a self-described "dynamic, UK-based publishing house specializing in projects that directly support the professional computer security industry," has just launched a new computer forensics magazine called Digital Forensics Magazine.

According to the editors, the magazine's current focus is on "all aspects of computer forensics and cyber forensics, as well as e-discovery and reverse engineering." The stories are aimed at both the expert and "the layman digital forensics examiner," a target audience most law enforcement professionals would just as soon not encourage.

The magazine is published in PDF format (the first edition is just over 12 Mb) and the first issue is available for download after free registration.

The 52-page debut publication contains four main sections: Regulars, Features, Legal, and Technology. As promised, the feature articles cover a wide gamut of topics:

• Anatomy of a Web Request;
• Data Erasure -- Fact or Fiction?;
• Forensic Examination of a Computer System;
• Back-up Tape Forensics Is Here to Stay; and
• Brief Introduction to Computer Forensics.

In addition to the magazine download, DFM's Joomla-driven site contains a variety of other resources, including a Twitter-feed (catch them @DFMag), a bookstore of forensics books, a poll, and a newsfeed. 

So far, so good. DFM looks like it could develop into a potentially useful resource for computer forensics experts. But there are flies in the ointment:  the magazine is scheduled to be published quarterly, and will cost £54 (approximately US$88) per year hereafter.

A quarterly publication schedule raises legitimate questions of timeliness, given how fast the forensics world changes. The magazine could focus on so-called "evergreen" articles, which are designed to have a longer shelf life, but it's a dubious approach for a rapidly-evolving industry.

Moreover, it's a little hard to imagine that many folks will be all that keen to pony up that amount of coin for a handful of articles, particularly given the fact that such large amounts of computer forensics material is available online for free (i.e., advertising-supported).

As the computer forensics industry continues its inexorable climb towards multi-billion revenues, there will be a demand for trade journals. Whether DFM will be part of the mix remains to be seen.