More than 95% of criminal investigations today rely on digital evidence, ranging from smartphones and laptops to social media and cloud data. In this landscape, the Examiner plays a pivotal role in uncovering the truth and ensuring justice is served.

The digital forensics process empowers Examiners to crack complex cases by uncovering key evidence, building timelines and ultimately linking suspects to crimes. But case outcomes often hinge on how digital evidence is handled from collection to courtroom presentation. 

Law Enforcement agencies around the globe rely on digital forensic solutions to methodically collect, preserve and analyze electronic data. Understanding the digital forensics lifecycle and following best practices ensures forensic integrity, a secure chain of custody and the admissibility of evidence in court. 

Digital Forensics Best Practices 

To maintain forensic integrity and ensure evidence is admissible in court, we’ve compiled a list of 10 best practices for Examiners to follow:

Seizure   

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  1. Scene Preservation:
    • Immediately secure mobile devices at the scene to prevent loss, contamination, or alteration of evidence.  
    • Photograph the device in place, document surrounding items (e.g., chargers, cases, papers), and document its condition and location. 
    • Consider the importance of physical evidence (fingerprints or DNA) and weigh against the risk to the digital data if extraction is delayed. 
    • Handle the device carefully to preserve fingerprints, smudges, or physical damage. 
  2. Power Management:
    Maintain the device in its current state. 
    • If it’s turned off, leave it off.  
    • If it’s powered on, keep it powered on.
  1. Network Isolation:
    Take steps to isolate the device from networks to prevent remote tampering or wiping.
    • Place the phone in Airplane mode if possible and disable networks. 
      *Note that use of Control Center is only a temporary solution. 
    • Use a Faraday solution to block network signals. Consider including a power bank inside the Faraday solution to keep the device powered on. 

Extraction  

  1. Legal Authorization:
    Ensure you have appropriate legal authority for extraction or that articulable exigency exists (Depending on jurisdiction) before accessing a device.
  1. Before Extraction:
    • Check extraction options and support before.
    • Document the device’s condition, screen and time. 
    • Select the appropriate extraction method depending on the legal authorization.
  1. Ensure Extraction Completion:
    Check for any errors during extraction and make sure the extraction looks good before moving on.
    • Does the extraction open? 
    • Does the extraction include the required keystore/keychain? 

Examination 

  1. Hash Verification:
    Comparing the hash value of the data is a simple way to increase confidence that the data has not changed since extraction.
  1. Validate:
    If you find important evidence, validate it.

Throughout

  1. Document, Document, Document:
    Document everything to support a defensible chain of custody.
    • The device state upon seizure. 
    • Who seized the device and when. 
    • Was anything done to the device (Log on attempts? Viewed data?) 
    • When did the extraction start? By who? 
    • What steps were taken and why? 
    • Post extraction, what happened to the device?  

Challenges in Digital Evidence Analysis 

Despite these best practices, Examiners are facing growing challenges as technology evolves: 

Data Volume 
Devices store vast amounts of data and automated tools are essential to help Examiners efficiently identify relevant evidence. 

Cloud 
Many applications benefit from having cloud connectivity and Cloud services could hold more data than is available locally on the device. 

Information Sharing 
Securely sharing large datasets across teams and jurisdictions requires robust forensic platforms. 

Cross-Device Analysis 
Investigating multiple devices simultaneously can uncover critical connections, such as: 

  • Corroborating movements between suspects and victims 
  • Identifying communication patterns among seemingly unrelated individuals 
  • Tracing illicit activities across networks 

Examiners must balance thorough investigations with privacy rights, requiring precise legal protocols and defensible reporting. 

Keeping Pace with the Changing Landscape 

Digital evidence is foundational to modern investigations. Examiners are shifting from isolated device analysis to a holistic view of digital ecosystems. As technology advances, the tools and techniques used to collect and analyze evidence must follow suit. 

To put these best practices into action, Examiners need tools that can keep pace. Cellebrite Inseyets empowers Examiners to handle complex data sets, automate extraction and decoding, access Cloud data sources and maintain forensic integrity throughout the process. 

In today’s connected world, the importance of digital evidence will only grow. Examiners equipped with advanced forensic tools and continuous training will be best positioned to ensure justice is served efficiently, accurately and defensibly. 

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