Digital Forensics
Digital forensics is a specific set of services for forensic sciences focused on recovery and investigation of artifacts found on any digital devices. Any devices that store data (e.g. computers, laptops, smartphones, thumb drives, memory cards or external hard drives) are within the parameters of digital forensics.
Given the relevance of these digital devices, there has been a ramp-up in use of digital forensics in legal cases and these investigations. |
Digital forensics is the process of collecting, analyzing, and preserving electronic evidence in order to investigate and prevent digital crimes. Investigators use various techniques and tools to conduct digital forensics. Here is an overview of the general steps involved in the process:
- Identification and Planning:
- Define the scope of the investigation.
- Identify the types of digital evidence that may be relevant.
- Develop a plan for the investigation, including the resources and tools needed.
- Preservation:
- Ensure the integrity of the evidence by preserving the original state of digital devices.
- Use write-blocking hardware or software to prevent any changes to the data on the original devices.
- Document and record the chain of custody to maintain the admissibility of evidence in court.
- Collection:
- Collect relevant digital evidence, such as hard drives, mobile devices, servers, and other storage media.
- Create a forensic copy (bit-for-bit copy) of the original data to work on, preserving the original evidence for legal purposes.
- Analysis:
- Examine the forensic copies of the data using specialized software tools.
- Identify and extract relevant information, such as files, emails, chat logs, and metadata.
- Reconstruct events and timelines to understand the sequence of activities.
- Documentation:
- Document the procedures followed during the investigation.
- Record findings, including details about the evidence, analysis methods, and any conclusions drawn.
- Prepare a comprehensive report that can be used in legal proceedings.
- Presentation:
- Present the findings in a clear and understandable manner.
- Provide expert testimony in court if required.
- Post-Investigation Activities:
- Store and maintain the collected evidence securely to preserve its integrity.
- Ensure that all legal and ethical guidelines have been followed throughout the investigation.
- Continuous Learning:
- Stay updated on new technologies, tools, and forensic techniques.
- Attend training sessions and conferences to enhance skills and knowledge.
- Disk Imaging Tools: For creating bit-for-bit copies of storage devices.
- Forensic Analysis Tools: Such as EnCase, FTK (Forensic Toolkit), Autopsy, and Sleuth Kit.