"This title addresses the legal issues relating to digital evidence collected during the course of a criminal investigation and its subsequent use at trial. It surveys key technologies (cookies, web-cases, recovery methods) and explains them in a simple, easy to understand fashion.

Though an increasing number of criminals are using computers and computer networks, few investigators are well versed in the issues related to digital evidence. This work explains how computer networks function and how they can be used in a crime.

This report describes the results of a National Institute of Justice (NIJ)-sponsored research effort to identify and prioritize criminal justice needs related to digital evidence collection, management, analysis, and use. With digital devices becoming ubiquitous, digital evidence is increasingly important to the investigation and prosecution of many types of crimes. These devices often contain information about crimes committed, movement of suspects, and criminal associates. However, there are significant challenges to successfully using digital evidence in prosecutions, including inexperience of patrol officers and detectives in preserving and collecting digital evidence, lack of familiarity with digital evidence on the part of court officials, and an overwhelming volume of work for digital evidence examiners. Through structured interaction with police digital forensic experts, prosecuting attorneys, a privacy advocate, and industry representatives, the effort identified and prioritized specific needs to improve utilization of digital evidence in criminal justice. Several top-tier needs emerged from the analysis, including education of prosecutors and judges regarding digital evidence opportunities and challenges; training for patrol officers and investigators to promote better collection and preservation of digital evidence; tools for detectives to triage analysis of digital evidence in the field; development of regional models to make digital evidence analysis capability available to small departments; and training to address concerns about maintaining the currency of training and technology available to digital forensic examiners.

"The proposed update, as part of our "Criminal Law Series," will incorporate all major changes to digital evidence in the criminal context. Like the first edition, it will serve as a concise, clear text addressing the procedural, tactical, and strategic elements of gathering, admitting, and presenting digital evidence."--

The vast majority of modern criminal investigations involve some element of digital evidence, from mobile phones, computers, CCTV and other devices. Digital Forensics: Digital Evidence in Criminal Investigations provides the reader with a better understanding of how digital evidence complements “traditional” scientific evidence and examines how it can be used more effectively and efficiently in a range of investigations. Taking a new approach to the topic, this book presents digital evidence as an adjunct to other types of evidence and discusses how it can be deployed effectively in support of investigations. The book provides investigators/SSMs/other managers with sufficient contextual and technical information to be able to make more effective use of digital evidence sources in support of a range of investigations. In particular, it considers the roles played by digital devices in society and hence in criminal activities. From this, it examines the role and nature of evidential data which may be recoverable from a range of devices, considering issues relating to reliability and usefulness of those data. Includes worked case examples, test questions and review quizzes to enhance student understanding Solutions provided in an accompanying website Includes numerous case studies throughout to highlight how digital evidence is handled at the crime scene and what can happen when procedures are carried out incorrectly Considers digital evidence in a broader context alongside other scientific evidence Discusses the role of digital devices in criminal activities and provides methods for the evaluation and prioritizing of evidence sources Includes discussion of the issues surrounding modern digital evidence examinations, for example; volume of material and its complexity Clear overview of all types of digital evidence Digital Forensics: Digital Evidence in Criminal Investigations is an invaluable text for undergraduate students taking either general forensic science courses where digital forensics may be a module or a dedicated computer/digital forensics degree course. The book is also a useful overview of the subject for postgraduate students and forensic practitioners.

Handbook of Digital Forensics and Investigation builds on the success of the Handbook of Computer Crime Investigation, bringing together renowned experts in all areas of digital forensics and investigation to provide the consummate resource for practitioners in the field. It is also designed as an accompanying text to Digital Evidence and Computer Crime. This unique collection details how to conduct digital investigations in both criminal and civil contexts, and how to locate and utilize digital evidence on computers, networks, and embedded systems. Specifically, the Investigative Methodology section of the Handbook provides expert guidance in the three main areas of practice: Forensic Analysis, Electronic Discovery, and Intrusion Investigation. The Technology section is extended and updated to reflect the state of the art in each area of specialization. The main areas of focus in the Technology section are forensic analysis of Windows, Unix, Macintosh, and embedded systems (including cellular telephones and other mobile devices), and investigations involving networks (including enterprise environments and mobile telecommunications technology). This handbook is an essential technical reference and on-the-job guide that IT professionals, forensic practitioners, law enforcement, and attorneys will rely on when confronted with computer related crime and digital evidence of any kind. *Provides methodologies proven in practice for conducting digital investigations of all kinds*Demonstrates how to locate and interpret a wide variety of digital evidence, and how it can be useful in investigations *Presents tools in the context of the investigative process, including EnCase, FTK, ProDiscover, foremost, XACT, Network Miner, Splunk, flow-tools, and many other specialized utilities and analysis platforms*Case examples in every chapter give readers a practical understanding of the technical, logistical, and legal challenges that arise in real investigations

Section 1: What is Digital Forensics? Chapter 1. Digital Evidence is Everywhere Chapter 2. Overview of Digital Forensics Chapter 3. Digital Forensics -- The Sub-Disciplines Chapter 4. The Foundations of Digital Forensics -- Best Practices Chapter 5. Overview of Digital Forensics Tools Chapter 6. Digital Forensics at Work in the Legal System Section 2: Experts Chapter 7. Why Do I Need an Expert? Chapter 8. The Difference between Computer Experts and Digital Forensic Experts Chapter 9. Selecting a Digital Forensics Expert Chapter 10. What to Expect from an Expert Chapter 11. Approaches by Different Types of Examiners Chapter 12. Spotting a Problem Expert Chapter 13. Qualifying an Expert in Court Sections 3: Motions and Discovery Chapter 14. Overview of Digital Evidence Discovery Chapter 15. Discovery of Digital Evidence in Criminal Cases Chapter 16. Discovery of Digital Evidence in Civil Cases Chapter 17. Discovery of Computers and Storage Media Chapter 18. Discovery of Video Evidence Ch ...

Updated to include the most current events and information on cyberterrorism, the second edition of Computer Forensics: Cybercriminals, Laws, and Evidence continues to balance technicality and legal analysis as it enters into the world of cybercrime by exploring what it is, how it is investigated, and the regulatory laws around the collection and use of electronic evidence. Students are introduced to the technology involved in computer forensic investigations and the technical and legal difficulties involved in searching, extracting, maintaining, and storing electronic evidence, while simultaneously looking at the legal implications of such investigations and the rules of legal procedure relevant to electronic evidence. Significant and current computer forensic developments are examined, as well as the implications for a variety of fields including computer science, security, criminology, law, public policy, and administration.

Developments in the world have shown how simple it is to acquire all sorts of information through the use of computers. This information can be used for a variety of endeavors, and criminal activity is a major one. In an effort to fight this new crime wave, law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, and investment firms are incorporating computer forensics into their infrastructure. From network security breaches to child pornography investiga- tions, the common bridge is the demon- stration that the particular electronic media contained the incriminating evidence. Supportive examination procedures and protocols should be in place in order to show that the electronic media contains the incriminating evidence.