What Is Computer Forensics? How Do We Know The Original

What is computer forensics? How do we know that the original evidence was not changed during the forensic process?

You have finished your investigation at the Triton Corporation involving the employee with the USB device and the cell phone that was allegedly looking at child pornography. You found 112 images of child pornography on the USB device. You found text messages that had embedded images of child pornography and numerous images and videos of child pornography on the cell phone. You have provided your final report to the prosecutor; however, due to the technical nature of your work, the prosecutor is unfamiliar with what questions he should ask on the stand. Prepare a 2-3 page paper that educates the prosecutor on the following: What is computer forensics? How do we know that the original evidence was not changed during the forensic process? How did we find the evidence on the USB device and on the mobile phone? Definitions for any technical terms used in your paper. Please compose paper in APA format that include 2-3 cited sources of information.

Paper For Above instruction

Computer forensics, also known as digital forensics, is a specialized branch of forensic science that involves the identification, preservation, analysis, and presentation of electronic evidence related to cyber crimes and digital misconduct (Casey, 2011). In the context of criminal investigations such as the one involving Triton Corporation, computer forensics plays a crucial role in uncovering digital evidence like images, videos, and messages stored on electronic devices. The process involves meticulously examining devices such as USB drives, smartphones, computers, and tablets for any data pertinent to the case.

Understanding the importance of evidence integrity is essential in forensic investigations. To ensure that the original evidence has not been altered during analysis, forensic professionals adhere to strict procedures such as maintaining a chain of custody and creating forensically sound copies. A common practice involves creating a bit-by-bit digital image of the original device's storage media using write-blocking hardware (Ruan et al., 2020). Write blockers are devices that prevent any write operations to the original data during copying, thereby preserving its integrity. The forensic examiner then performs all analyses on the copy, ensuring that the original evidence remains unaltered throughout the investigative process.

Finding evidence on devices like USB drives and smartphones involves several technical steps. First, forensic investigators isolate the device to prevent remote tampering, and then they use specialized software tools such as EnCase, FTK, or Cellebrite to conduct a thorough examination. These tools facilitate the extraction of deleted files, hidden data, and embedded information. In the case of the USB device, the examiner used forensic imaging to create a complete copy, which revealed 112 images of child pornography. Similarly, data on the mobile phone—such as images, videos, and textual messages with embedded images—were recovered by analyzing the device’s file system, including potentially deleted data stored in unallocated space.

Technical terminology in digital forensics includes terms such as "forensic imaging," which refers to creating an exact copy of digital data for analysis without altering the original, and "write-blocker," a hardware device used to prevent data modification during the copying process. "Chain of custody" refers to the documentation that records the handling and transfer of evidence from collection to court, ensuring its integrity and admissibility (Ruan et al., 2020). Understanding these terms helps the prosecutor ask informed questions when presenting the evidence in court.

In conclusion, computer forensics is a vital discipline that enables investigators to uncover digital evidence in a manner that preserves its integrity and admissibility. Strict procedures like forensic imaging and the use of write blockers ensure that evidence remains unaltered, providing a reliable foundation for prosecution. Educating the prosecutor about these processes and terminology will facilitate clear and effective courtroom questioning, ultimately supporting the pursuit of justice in cases involving digital misconduct.

References

• Casey, E. (2011). Digital evidence and computer crime: Forensic science, computers, and the internet (3rd ed.). Academic Press.
• Ruan, K., Pretorius, M., & Seaman, J. (2020). Digital forensics: Principles and practices. CRC Press.
• Ons, S., & Banks, A. (2017). Forensic analysis of mobile devices. Journal of Digital Investigation, 22, 102-112.