1. A nontransitory computer-readable storage medium upon which is embodied and stored a sequence of programmed instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform functions comprising: extracting data from input data; detecting suspect data contained in said extracted data using a forensic search tool of a computing platform associated with a first entity, said detecting performed by matching said extracted data with one or more pre-defined data patterns specified by said forensic search tool, wherein said suspect data comprises data identified by said forensic search tool as being associated with inappropriate or illegal activities; including the suspect data and a non-readable and non-modifiable representation of sensitive data in the forensic search tool; outputting a report identifying said suspect data; and outputting said forensic search tool by said computing platform associated with said first entity to at least one computing platform associated with a second entity, wherein instructions associated with said digital forensic search tool further comprise a header, a search markup language portion, and a data features portion containing features of data, wherein the digital forensic search tool enables said computing platform associated with said first entity to share the digital forensic search tool with said at least one computing platform associated with a second entity in a manner that enables utilization of the representation of sensitive data by the second entity while not revealing the actual content of the sensitive data to the second entity; and wherein instructions implementing said digital forensic search tool are provided in accordance with a search markup language.
3. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 1 , wherein the features of data cannot be directly modified by the second entity.