You are reading this article because you are interested in how digital forensics investigation works. Or worst, you need a service from the experts to strengthen your cybersecurity to avoid or resolve any cyber attack.
By definition, it is the process of identification, preservation, documentation and extraction of computer attestation, a tool by the court of law. It is a science of discovering evidence from digital media like networks, servers, computers or mobile phones. It gives the forensic team a tool and techniques to resolve complex digital-related issues. It helps to analyze, inspect, identify and preserve the shreds of evidence residing on different electronic devices.
A digital forensic expert is the one who investigates when pieces of information are stolen or hacked from electronic devices. They determine what and how it was done, recovering and repairing damaged data files. The experts’ design the procedures at the crime scene so as to ensure that the digital evidence is not damaged or corrupted. They postulate the motive behind the attack and trace the main culprit. Thus, they will ensure that the crime will not happen again.
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To know how digital forensics investigation works, here’s the process that the experts do.
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Identification
This is where the experts establish the investigation and identify the goals and objectives that need to be achieved. Selecting the evidence and devices used such as computers, traffic logs, network and storage media devices will make the path for the investigation done.
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Preservation
Preservation of the digital evidence on the affected network ensures that relevant steps and actions will be taken. It is performed in the form of an image backup file. It is vital to employ imaging software that makes use of write blockers to ensure that there are no digital footprints left by the examiner who is making the image. When the backup image is created, all the evidence preceding the image has been seized.
What happens when you don’t preserve the logs as early as possible? Computers are continuously receiving and changing data they store in data backups and access logs configuration, and if not preserved early, the relevant information needed for the investigation may be overwritten. In addition, experts will extract digitals artifacts like event logs, packets of data, and containers.
Like any investigations, evidence collected closer to the time of the incident will greatly help the investigators picture what happened at the crime scene. Unfortunately, the longer you wait, data might be overwritten, and logs will change.
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Analysis
This is the heart of digital forensics. First, the collected data and digital evidence from the investigation will be analyzed and put together to identify the details that happened during the cyber attack. Then, experts use techniques and tools to create the event promptly. Professionals also use tools to extract and inspect information they aim for.
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Documentation
After the analysis, digital evidence is collected and recorded as it concerns the crime at hand. Good documentation includes the most crucial information needed to create an explicit conclusion and is prepared in professional documentation such as graphs, pictures and reports for the presentation.
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Presentation
This is the most vital step in accomplishing a quality investigation. A good presentation of results and findings helps the victim to understand the cyberattack and what happened. These findings may be exploited in internal investigations and business audits following the attack. Experienced forensics experts will give you every detail and leave nothing to make sure all detailed information can be told to the victim.
With the continuous evolution of technology, businesses will be dependent on using networks, applications and any digitally connected services to continue their operations, and information security will be more complicated and critical. As a result, almost all industries need digital forensics experts (corporations and bigger companies alike), especially on criminal investigations and government agencies.
