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What is Digital forensics?

Digital forensics is a branch of forensics that focuses on the extraction and investigation of evidence stored on digital devices to be used in relation of a crime.

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What are challenges associated with digital forensics?

Some of the challenges the digital forensics face are encryption, steganography, covert channel, data hiding in storage spaces, residual data wiping, and tail obfuscation.

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Describe and define the chain of custody for digital evidence.

The chain of custody for digital evidence is 1. save the original material(s) 2. take photos of physical evidence 3. take screenshots of digital evidence 4. document data, time, and any other information of receipt 5. inject a bit-for-bit clone of digital evidence content into a computer 6. perform a harsh test analysis

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How is digital evidence preserved?

Digital evidence is preserved by puting physical evidence in a dead box and copying the original evidence.

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What is encryption?

When data is protected by a encryption making it harder for forensics to get to the data.

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What are ways that digital evidence may be preserved?

1. don't change the state of the device. 2. power down the device. 3. don't leave the device in an open area. 4. don't plug the device in any external storage.

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Case solved by digital evidence.

suspect: Holden James Matthews, charged with the arson of three religious churches.
motives for the arson: to raise his profile with the black metal group.
The crimes occurred in Port Barre, and Opelousas Louisiana on March 26th, April 2nd, and April 4th in 2019.
He was caught due to him taking pictures and videos, posting them on Facebook and  discussed them with a online friend.  another evidens was that his debit card showed him buying a gas canister which was found at the crime scene.
trial: the trial was postponed past the 70 day speedy trial and evidence that was shown was so strong the defence team could not defend him. he pleaded not-guilty to all federal charges but later pleaded guilty.
Sentencing: he is sentenced to 25 years in prison for three counts of intentional damage to religious property, a hate crime under the 1996 Church Arson Prevention Act, and one count of using fire to commit a felony for burning the three historically Black Baptist churches in March and April 2019.

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Reflection.

Digital forensics has changed overtime by more cases come in every year, new computer programs are being developed, and continues to expand every year.
Digital forensics is a necessary tool in analyzing evidence and solving cases. Through digital forensics, police agencies have had great success with tracking criminals and assisting victims.
If we did not have digital forensics most crimes would go unsolved due to the amount of evidence stored on devices.