Computer Evidence: Collection & Preservation

Computer Evidence: Collection and Preservation teaches law enforcement and computer forensics investigators how to identify, collect, and maintain digital artifacts to preserve their reliability for admission as evidence. The book focuses on collection and preservation because these two phases of computer forensics are the most critical to evidence acceptance, but are not thoroughly covered in text or courses. Throughout the book, a constant eye is kept on evidence dynamics and the impact investigators can have on data integrity while collecting evidence. The simple act of a computer forensics investigator shutting down a suspect's computer changes the state of the computer as well as many of its files, so a good understanding of evidence dynamics is essential when doing computer forensics work. Broken up into five parts, Computer Forensics & Evidence Dynamics, Information Systems, Data Storage Systems & Media, Artifact Collection, and Archiving & Maintaining Evidence, the book places specific focus on how investigators and their tools are interacting with digital evidence. By reading and using this task-oriented guide, computer forensics investigators will be able to ensure case integrity during the most crucial phases of the computer forensics process.