ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an overview of available Internet-based resources and also provides a base to begin investigative research. The Internet underpins information transfer around the world, society relies on the Internet and its influence continues to develop. There are two types of Internet-based investigative resources: 'fee-paying services' and 'open source information'. Fee-paying services are subject to restrictions; for example, are the requestors of the information fit and proper persons, does the requestor require that information as part of their daily duties or, simply, the vendor of the information requires payment for providing the service and storing the information. The plethora of information available on the Internet can, of course, raise concerns and an element of government/legal control is necessary to protect personal information. The law exists to protect the potential abuse of personal information, but the vast majority of information on Internet is open source information and freely available to an investigator.
