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Hey there! If you’ve ever wondered, “What is digital forensics in simple terms?” you’ve come to the right place.

Digital forensics is the process of uncovering and interpreting electronic data to help solve digital mysteries.

It’s like being a detective but for the digital world! From cybercrime investigations to data breaches, digital forensics plays a crucial role in understanding and mitigating these incidents.

What is Digital Forensics?

Digital forensics is the art and science of examining electronic data to extract valuable information, whether it’s for legal, investigative, or security purposes.

This includes analyzing computer systems, mobile devices, networks, and even cloud services to find hidden evidence and understand the events that took place.

The primary goal of digital forensics is to preserve the integrity of digital evidence and present it in a way that can be used in legal proceedings or to improve cybersecurity practices.

Fun Fact #1: Digital forensics has been used to solve aviation accidents: Digital forensic experts have been called upon to investigate aviation accidents and determine the cause of the crash. By analyzing data from flight recorders, radar systems, and other digital sources, they can reconstruct the events leading up to the accident and identify any mechanical or human errors that may have occurred

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Why is it Important?

In today’s digital age, we’re all surrounded by technology. Our lives are intertwined with electronic devices, from our smartphones and laptops to the ever-growing Internet of Things.

And as we rely more on these devices, the potential for digital crime increases. That’s where digital forensics comes in – it’s the key to understanding and solving digital mysteries.

Digital forensics helps us to:

• Investigate and solve cybercrimes
• Uncover evidence in legal cases involving digital data
• Protect businesses and individuals from data breaches and cyber-attacks
• Recover lost or damaged data
• And much more!

Is digital forensics a good career? You bet it is! With the rapid growth of technology and the increasing demand for digital forensic experts, there’s never been a better time to dive into this fascinating field.

If you want to know more about the various branches of digital forensics, check out our guide on digital forensics branches.

Fun Fact #2: Digital forensics has been used to solve sports-related cases: Digital forensic techniques have been used in sports-related cases to investigate doping, match-fixing, and other forms of cheating. For example, in 2016, digital forensic evidence helped to prove that Russian athletes had engaged in state-sponsored doping, leading to their ban from the Olympics

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The Digital Forensics Process

Digital forensics isn’t just about diving headfirst into a digital haystack looking for that one shiny needle; it’s a systematic process ensuring digital evidence’s integrity and admissibility.

Let’s walk through the five (5) main stages of the digital forensics process.

Identification

This is where it all begins. In the identification phase, digital forensic investigators determine the scope of the investigation and identify potential sources of digital evidence.

They’ll look for electronic devices, storage media, and network logs that may contain relevant information. The goal is to create a roadmap for the investigation so they know where to focus their efforts.

Preservation

Once potential evidence sources have been identified, preserving them is crucial. This means protecting digital evidence from accidental or intentional tampering, alteration, or deletion.

Forensic investigators use specialized techniques and tools to create a “forensic image” of the original data, which is an exact copy that can be safely analyzed without risking the integrity of the original evidence.

Collection

Now that the evidence is preserved, it’s time to collect it. This involves extracting the relevant data from the identified sources, such as computer hard drives, mobile devices, and network logs.

Following a well-documented procedure and maintaining a clear chain of custody is essential to ensure the evidence remains admissible in court.

Learn how to acquire a forensic image using the command line from our tutorial post.

Analysis

This is where the magic happens. In the analysis phase, digital forensic experts sift through the collected data to uncover hidden evidence and piece together the digital puzzle.

They’ll use various tools and techniques to recover deleted files, decrypt encrypted data, and analyze system logs to reconstruct the events that took place.

The goal is to provide a clear and accurate picture of what happened, who was involved, and how it all went down.

Check out our data recovery vs. digital forensics article to understand their differences.

Presentation

Finally, the results of the analysis need to be presented in a clear and concise manner. This could be in the form of a written report, expert testimony in court, or a presentation to a client.

The key is to communicate the findings in a way that’s easy to understand, even for those without a background in digital forensics.

Now that we’ve got a handle on the digital forensics process. Let’s explore the different types of digital forensics in the next section.

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Types of Digital Forensics

Digital forensics is a diverse field with many specialized branches, each focusing on a specific aspect of the digital world.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common types of digital forensics.

Computer Forensics

This is probably what comes to mind when you think of digital forensics.

Computer forensics focuses on analyzing data from computer systems, including desktops, laptops, and servers. Investigators dig into hard drives, memory, and system logs to uncover evidence of cybercrimes, data breaches, and other digital incidents.

Mobile Device Forensics

With smartphones and tablets practically glued to our hands, it’s no surprise that mobile device forensics is a rapidly growing field.

Mobile forensics experts specialize in extracting and analyzing data from mobile devices, including call logs, text messages, photos, and app data. It’s a challenging field due to the sheer variety of devices, operating systems, and security measures.

Network Forensics

Network forensics monitors and analyzes network traffic to detect and investigate cyber-attacks, data breaches, and other security incidents.

Experts in this field use tools like packet sniffers and network analyzers to capture and dissect network data, helping them understand the nature of an attack and identify its source.

Cloud Forensics

As more and more data is stored in the cloud, the need for cloud forensics has grown.

This branch of digital forensics deals with the challenges of investigating data stored on remote servers and services, such as Dropbox, Google Drive, or Amazon Web Services.

Cloud forensics experts must navigate the complexities of multi-tenant environments, data privacy regulations, and jurisdictional issues.

Social Media Forensics

Social media is an essential part of our daily lives and a goldmine of digital evidence.

Social media forensics involves the examination of social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, to uncover evidence and gain insights into digital crimes, harassment, or other incidents.

To learn more about the various branches of digital forensics and who uses them, check out our articles on digital forensics branches and who uses digital forensics.

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Digital Forensics Tools and Techniques

Whether you’re a seasoned digital forensics professional or just getting started in the field, having the right tools and techniques at your disposal can make all the difference.

Let’s explore some of the most popular tools and techniques used in digital forensics.

Open-Source Tools

There are numerous open-source tools available that can help digital forensic investigators in their quest for digital evidence. Some popular open-source tools include:

• Autopsy: A versatile digital forensics platform that supports file carving, timeline analysis, and more.
• Sleuth Kit: A collection of command-line tools for forensic analysis of disk images and file systems.
• Wireshark: A widely-used network protocol analyzer that allows investigators to capture and analyze network traffic.
• Volatility: A powerful memory forensics framework for analyzing volatile memory (RAM) from a wide range of systems.

Commercial Tools

While open-source tools can be incredibly useful, there are also commercial tools available that offer additional features and support. Some popular commercial tools include:

• EnCase: A comprehensive digital forensics suite with a wide range of capabilities, including disk imaging, file carving, and network forensics.
• FTK: A powerful digital forensics tool that supports advanced data recovery, password cracking, and email analysis.
• Cellebrite: A leader in mobile device forensics, offering tools for extracting and analyzing data from a wide range of mobile devices.

Find more digital forensics tools in our guide to the best digital forensics tools and software.

Techniques for Data Recovery and Analysis

In addition to using specialized tools, digital forensic investigators rely on various techniques to uncover hidden evidence and make sense of the data they collect.

Some common techniques include:

• File carving: The process of extracting files from raw data, even if the file system metadata is missing or damaged. Learn about the best file carving tools in our guide.

• Database forensics: Analyzing the contents of databases to uncover evidence, such as deleted records or unauthorized transactions. Check out our list of the best database forensics tools.

• Metadata analysis: Examining the metadata of files, such as timestamps and geolocation data, to gain insights into creating and modifying digital evidence. Discover how to view EXIF metadata in our tutorial.

You’ll be well-equipped to tackle any digital investigation with the right tools and techniques in your digital forensics toolbox.

But it’s not just about the technology – understanding digital forensics’ legal and ethical considerations is equally important.

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Legal and Ethical Considerations in Digital Forensics

As a digital forensics professional, it’s essential to be aware of the legal and ethical considerations that come into play when conducting investigations.

This helps ensure that the evidence collected is admissible in court and that all parties’ rights are protected.

Chain of Custody

Maintaining a clear chain of custody is critical in digital forensics. This involves documenting every step of the evidence-handling process, from the initial collection to the final presentation in court.

A well-maintained chain of custody ensures that the evidence has not been tampered with or altered and helps to establish its integrity and admissibility in legal proceedings.

Privacy and Data Protection

Privacy and data protection are important concerns in digital forensics, especially when dealing with sensitive personal information.

Investigators must be mindful of applicable privacy laws and regulations, such as GDPR in the European Union or CCPA in California, and take steps to protect individuals’ privacy.

This may include obtaining proper authorization or warrants, using encryption to secure data, and minimizing the collection of non-relevant data.

Ethical Conduct

Upholding high ethical standards is crucial in digital forensics.

Investigators should conduct their work with integrity, honesty, and professionalism, avoiding any actions that could compromise the evidence or harm innocent parties.

This may include:

• Ensuring that investigations are based on justifiable suspicion
• Respecting the rights of individuals involved in the investigation
• Avoiding conflicts of interest
• Being transparent and objective in the analysis and presentation of evidence

To learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of digital forensics, take a look at our article on the pros and cons of digital forensics.

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Conclusion

Well, we’ve come a long way in this comprehensive guide to digital forensics, haven’t we?

We’ve covered the basics, walking through the digital forensics process, explored the different types of digital forensics, and discussed some popular tools and techniques.

Plus, we’ve touched on the importance of legal and ethical considerations when working in this field.

Digital forensics is an exciting and rapidly evolving field, and it’s clear that the demand for skilled professionals will continue to grow.

So, is digital forensics a good career? Absolutely! It’s a rewarding and challenging field with plenty of opportunities for growth and specialization.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in digital forensics, it’s worth noting that while having programming skills can be beneficial, it’s not always required.

You can read more about this in our article on whether digital forensics requires coding or programming skills.

We hope this guide has provided you with valuable insights and inspired you to explore the fascinating world of digital forensics further.

Remember, knowledge is power, and the more you learn, the better prepared you’ll be to tackle the digital challenges of the future. Good luck!

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Digital forensics is crucial in investigating and prosecuting cybercrime, fraud, and other illegal activities.

As technology advances, the need for specialized digital forensics expertise becomes increasingly important.

Digital forensics is the use of various techniques and tools to collect, analyze, and preserve electronic data so that it can be used in court.

We will discuss the various branches of digital forensics in this blog post and investigate the key characteristics of each main branch.

Whether you’re an aspiring digital forensics professional or simply curious about this fascinating field, this blog post will give you a comprehensive overview of the various branches of digital forensics.

What Are The Main Branches Of Digital Forensics?

Digital forensics is a broad field that encompasses a variety of specialized branches; each focused on investigating specific types of digital devices or data.

Here are the nine (9) different branches of digital forensics;

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1. Computer Forensics

Computer forensics is perhaps the most well-known branch of digital forensics. It involves the investigation of computers to recover evidence related to cybercrime, fraud, and other criminal activities.

Computer forensics involves collecting and analyzing data from a computer’s hard drive, memory, and other storage devices.

This data can include deleted files, browsing history, chat logs, and other types of digital artifacts that can provide valuable information about the computer user’s activities.

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2. Mobile Device Forensics

Mobile device forensics is another important branch of digital forensics.

It involves the investigation of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets to recover evidence related to cybercrime, fraud, and other criminal activities.

Mobile device forensics involves collecting and analyzing data from a mobile device’s storage, SIM card, and other components. This data can then be used as evidence in a court of law.

This data can include text messages, call logs, browsing history, and other types of digital artifacts that can provide valuable information about the mobile device user’s activities.

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3. Network Forensics

Network forensics involves the investigation of network traffic to uncover evidence related to cybercrime, fraud, and other criminal activities.

Network forensics involves collecting and analyzing data from network devices such as routers, switches, and firewalls. This data can then be used as evidence in a court of law.

This data can include packet captures, network logs, and other types of digital artifacts that can provide valuable information about network activity.

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4. Memory forensics

Memory forensics involves the investigation of a computer’s memory to uncover evidence related to cybercrime, fraud, and other criminal activities.

Memory forensics involves collecting and analyzing data from a computer’s RAM, virtual memory, and other components.

This data can include information about running processes, network connections, and other digital artifacts that can provide valuable information about the computer user’s activities.

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5. Database Forensics

Databases are used to store a wide range of information, including financial data, medical records, and personal information, making them a prime target for cybercriminals.

Database forensics involves collecting and analyzing data, including transaction logs, database backup files, and other types of digital artifacts that can provide valuable information about database activity.

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6. Cloud Forensics

Cloud forensics is a branch of digital forensics that involves the investigation of data stored in cloud computing environments.

Cloud computing has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its scalability, cost-effectiveness, and convenience. However, as more data is stored in the cloud, it has become a prime target for cybercriminals.

Cloud forensics involves collecting and analyzing data from cloud storage, virtual machines, access logs, configuration files, and other types of digital artifacts that can provide valuable information about cloud activity.

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7. Internet of Things (IoT) Forensics

As more devices become connected to the internet, the potential for cybercrime and digital forensics investigations related to IoT devices continues to grow.

IoT forensics involves collecting and analyzing data from IoT devices such as smart home devices, wearable technology, and industrial control systems.

This data can include device logs, network traffic, and other types of digital artifacts that can provide valuable information about IoT activity.

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8. Drone Forensics

Drones have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their versatility and accessibility, but as their usage has increased, so has the potential for cybercrime and digital forensics investigations related to drones.

Drone forensics involves collecting and analyzing data from drones, such as flight logs, camera footage, and other digital artifacts that can provide valuable information about drone activity.

This data can provide insight into the flight path of the drone, as well as any video or images captured by the drone’s camera.

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9. Multimedia Forensics

Multimedia data can include images, videos, audio recordings, and other types of digital media.

Video data can be found in surveillance cameras, social media, and other sources of recorded footage.

Video forensics is often used to determine the authenticity of a video file format for any signs of alteration or manipulation. It can also be used to enhance the quality of a video file, e.g., by reducing shaky or blurry scenes.

Audio data can be found in various sources such as phone recordings, voice mail messages, or video footage with audio.

Audio forensics is mainly used to remove background noises in an audio recording and analyze the audio information.

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Conclusion

Digital forensics is critical to investigating and prosecuting cybercrime, fraud, and other criminal activities.

The field of digital forensics encompasses a variety of specialized branches; each focused on investigating specific types of digital devices or data.

Digital forensics professionals must be proficient in using specialized software and hardware tools and knowledgeable about the legal requirements for collecting and presenting electronic evidence.

In addition, they must have strong analytical and problem-solving skills to identify relevant data and piece together a clear picture of what happened.

Whether you’re interested in pursuing a career in digital forensics or simply curious about this fascinating field, it’s clear that digital forensics plays a crucial role in maintaining the security and integrity of our increasingly digital world.

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Digital forensics is an important field that involves recovering, analyzing, and preserving digital evidence from electronic devices.

It can be used to investigate cybercrimes, data breaches, and other digital security incidents. But who exactly benefits from the use of digital forensics?

In this section, we’ll take a look at some of the main groups that rely on digital forensics.

Who Benefits from the Use of Digital Forensics?

Here are the five (5) groups of people who need to use digital forensic technology in their field of work.

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1. Law Enforcement Agencies

Digital forensics can be used to recover data from computers, mobile devices, and other electronic storage media, such as mass storage devices and memory cards.

These agencies use digital forensics to gather evidence in criminal investigations, such as cyberstalking, child exploitation, and financial crimes.

These evidentiary data can include emails, chat messages, images, videos, and other types of digital evidence.

One of the biggest challenges for law enforcement agencies is keeping up with the ever-evolving nature of the digital crime.

Criminals are constantly finding new ways to use technology to commit crimes, and law enforcement agencies need to be able to keep up.

Digital forensics is essential for law enforcement agencies because it enables them to stay ahead of the curve and investigate crimes effectively.

In fact, it has become so important to law enforcement that many agencies now have dedicated cybercrime & digital forensic units.

Fun Fact #1: Did you know that digital forensics was used to catch the infamous Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht? Law enforcement agencies were able to use digital evidence to tie him to the dark web marketplace and secure his conviction.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in digital forensics, check out our guide on digital forensics careers.

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2. Legal Professionals

Legal professionals, such as attorneys and paralegals, also benefit from the use of digital forensics. Digital forensics can be used to collect and analyze evidence in a wide variety of legal cases.

It can help attorneys build strong cases by providing them with digital evidence that can be used to prove or disprove claims, establish timelines, and provide context to other forms of evidence.

One of the key benefits of digital forensics for legal professionals is the ability to recover deleted or hidden data.

For example, if an individual is accused of fraud, digital forensics can be used to recover deleted emails or documents that may provide evidence of fraud.

In addition, digital forensics can be used to analyze metadata, which can help legal professionals determine when and where a particular file was created or modified.

Digital forensics can be used in a wide variety of legal cases, including intellectual property theft, breach of contract, employment disputes, and more.

Also, it can be used in criminal cases to investigate cybercrimes and other digital security incidents.

Digital forensics is not really a highly technical field. Anyone can learn it as it does not involve any coding skills. This is why legal professionals can use this in their field.

Fun Fact #2: Did you know that digital forensics played a role in the investigation of the Panama Papers scandal? Digital evidence was used to track the activities of the law firm involved in the scandal and identify the individuals and organizations involved.

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3. Corporations

Corporations are another group that can benefit greatly from the use of digital forensics.

In today’s digital age, corporations are vulnerable to a wide variety of digital security threats, such as data breaches and insider threats.

Digital forensics can help corporations identify and investigate these threats and recover from any damage that may have been caused.

One of the key benefits of digital forensics for corporations is the ability to investigate data breaches.

Digital forensics can be used to determine how a breach occurred, which database was compromised, and who may have been responsible.

This information can be used to improve the corporation’s security posture and prevent future breaches.

In addition to investigating security incidents, digital forensics can also be used to investigate employee misconduct.

For example, if a corporation suspects that an employee has stolen intellectual property or engaged in other illegal activities, digital forensics can be used to collect evidence and support disciplinary or legal action.

Fun Fact #3: Did you know that digital forensics played a role in the investigation of the Volkswagen emissions scandal? Investigators used digital evidence to uncover the company’s use of “defeat devices” to cheat emissions tests.

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4. Individuals

Individuals can also benefit from the use of digital forensics. In today’s digital age, individuals rely on digital devices and platforms for many aspects of their personal and professional lives.

This means that they are also vulnerable to digital security threats, such as data loss and cyber-attacks. Digital forensics can help individuals recover lost data and investigate security incidents.

One of the key benefits of digital forensics for individuals is the ability to recover lost or deleted data.

Digital forensics can be used to recover data from computers, mobile devices, and other electronic storage media. This can be especially helpful for individuals who rely on digital devices for their work or personal lives.

In addition to recovering lost data, digital forensics can also be used to investigate cyber attacks and other digital security incidents.

Although there are differences between using data recovery tools vs. digital forensics tools, individuals can have the flexibility to choose either one since both types of tools have the capabilities to recover lost data.

For example, if an individual’s social media account is hacked, digital forensics can be used to identify the source of the attack and help the individual regain control of their account.

Fun Fact #4: Did you know that digital forensics has been used to help individuals recover lost or stolen smartphones? By analyzing data from the device, digital forensics experts can often recover lost contacts, photos, and other data.

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5. Cybersecurity Researchers and Analysts

Cybersecurity researchers and analysts are another group of personnel that can benefit from using digital forensics.

Digital forensics can help researchers and analysts identify and analyze digital threats and vulnerabilities and develop effective strategies for preventing and mitigating these threats.

One of the key benefits of digital forensics for cybersecurity researchers and analysts is the ability to analyze digital evidence from cyber attacks.

By examining the evidence left behind by cyber attackers, researchers and analysts can better understand the attacker’s motives, methods, and tools.

This information can then be used to develop effective countermeasures to prevent future attacks.

In addition to analyzing digital evidence from cyber-attacks, digital forensics can also be used to analyze network traffic, identify vulnerabilities in software and hardware systems, and investigate incidents of insider threats.

By using digital forensics to identify and address these vulnerabilities, researchers, and analysts can help improve overall cybersecurity posture.

Fun Fact #5: Did you know that the Stuxnet worm, discovered in 2010 and widely believed to have been developed by the US and Israeli governments, was one of the most complex and sophisticated cyber weapons ever discovered? Digital forensics played a key role in analyzing the worm and identifying its origins.

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What is Digital Forensics?

Digital forensics, also known as computer forensics or cyber forensics, is the process of collecting, analyzing, and preserving electronic data for use in investigations and legal proceedings.

It involves the use of specialized tools and techniques to recover data from computers, mobile devices, and other electronic storage media.

Digital forensics can be used in a wide variety of contexts, including criminal investigations, civil litigation, and corporate security incidents.

It can help investigators identify and analyze digital evidence, such as emails, chat messages, images, videos, and other types of digital data.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, digital forensics is a field with numerous applications and benefits.

It is an essential tool for law enforcement agencies, legal professionals, corporations, and individuals alike.

By using digital forensics to recover, analyze, and preserve digital evidence, these groups can investigate crimes, prevent security breaches, and recover lost data.

If you’re interested in learning more about digital forensics, be sure to check out some of the resources and articles we’ve linked to throughout this post.

• Best Digital Forensics Software
• Best Cloud Forensics Software
• Best Mobile Forensics Software

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A career as a digital forensics analyst sounds exciting, especially when it involves uncovering digital evidence, helping to apprehend suspects, and testifying in a court of law as an expert witness giving expert opinions.

But what are the prerequisites involved?

Do you need Python coding skills, assembly language, or C++ language before you can become a digital forensics expert?

This article will answer all the questions relating to this specialized niche field of study as a career.

Are Coding and Programming Skills Necessary in Digital Forensics?

When learning digital forensics or pursuing a career in this field, it is not necessary to have coding and programming skills. You do not need these prerequisites to get started with digital forensics.

In fact, most commercial and open-source forensic tools have fully automated features, e.g., automated file carving, automatic parsing of system artifacts, etc., using the graphical user interface (GUI) that enables forensic analysts to focus more on the data analysis portion.

Forensic analysts do not need to code their own applications or do any form of programming.

Digital forensics software is built and designed to be GUI-friendly to facilitate point-and-click file analysis.

When it comes to attending digital forensics courses and certifications, there are no coding and programming tests or requirements as well.

The main competency of any digital forensic analyst lies in their ability to perform file analysis, e.g., finding out where a certain file comes from or using metadata to tell a story of what really happened.

What are the actual topics being taught in the field of Digital Forensics?

These are the actual technical skills required by forensic analysts (most of which can still be learned while on the job);

• General knowledge of basic file systems (e.g., NTFS, exFAT, APFS)
• General knowledge of operating systems (e.g., Windows, macOS, Linux)
• Disassembly and assembly of hardware (e.g., removal of hard drives from desktop PCs)
• Understanding of system artifacts (e.g., Windows Registry, system log files)
• The usage of commercial and open-source forensic tools (e.g., how to use the features)

What academic qualification (e.g., degree) do you need to apply for a digital forensics job?

For academic qualifications, this largely depends on the recruiting company.

The field of digital forensics largely depends on getting relevant forensic training (which can be done after you get the job) and spending time on the job analyzing data extraction (obtaining experience along the way).

Although a computer science or technology-related degree can certainly help in terms of better understanding forensic technology, there is no direct correlation between the two.

In short, anyone can learn digital forensics regardless of the academic discipline he/she had previously obtained, as long as the passion and interest are there.

Tools used in Digital Forensics

Digital forensics software can be broadly classified into two (2) types, namely commercial and open-source tools.

Commercial Forensics Tools

These paid tools include technical & customer support, as well as frequent new updates. Some of them are;

• OpenText EnCase
• Exterro FTK
• Cellebrite UFED

Open-Source Forensics Tools

They are free to use; however, they lack customer support and frequent version updates to support newer devices. Some of them are;

• Autopsy
• Sleuthkit
• SIFT Workstation