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Introduction to Digital Forensics

Cyber Security Mastery: From Zero to Hero

Module 7: Advanced Topics and Career Steps

Digital Forensics is the process of scientifically acquiring, examining, and analyzing electronic data while maintaining a strict chain of custody, often used after an incident or crime has occurred.

The Goal of Forensics

  1. Identification: Determine what happened (how the breach occurred).
  2. Preservation: Securely collect evidence without altering it.
  3. Analysis: Extract key evidence (deleted files, logs, artifacts).
  4. Presentation: Deliver findings in a clear, court-admissible format.

The Challenge: Volatility

Digital evidence is fragile. The most volatile evidence (e.g., RAM contents, network connection status) is lost the moment a machine is shut down. Forensics must prioritize capturing evidence based on its volatility.