Day 25: Cyber Careers – Who or What is a Digital Forensics investigator ?
A subfield of forensic science known as “digital forensic science” focuses on the recovery and examination of data from digital devices that are connected to cybercrime. Computer forensics was the original meaning of the word “digital forensics.” Since then, it has broadened to include any device that can store digital data. Although the Florida computer legislation and the first known computer crime were both in 1978, it wasn’t until the 1990s that the term “computer crime” came to be accepted. National policies on digital forensics didn’t start to arise until the beginning of the twenty-first century.
Investigators in computer forensics employ specialized methods to collect, examine, and preserve data on computer systems. Finding proof of criminal activity—along with the perpetrators and the extent of the harm—is their goal. If private information is disclosed due to a security breach, they may also be in charge of monitoring compliance with federal and state reporting laws.
If you were a member of the law enforcement community, your work would center on gathering and analyzing data to help solve crimes, prosecuting the guilty, and clearing the innocent. In contrast, if your job involves protecting a company’s network, you will use your forensic expertise to examine situations like policy violations.
What is the Salary of Digital Forensics Investigator ?
The average annual salary for a digital forensic investigator in the US is $82,382 as of July 18, 2022, by Ziprecruiter.
Is digital forensics the same as computer forensics?
Both words are frequently used in the same sentence. In general, digital forensics encompasses all kinds of digital data, including information that is transmitted over networks, and saved on computers, phones, hard drives, and internet of things devices. Digital forensics has a branch called computer forensics that specializes in computers and hard drives.
What are the Responsibilities of a Digital Forensics Investigator ?
- Observe legal processes while gathering digital evidence.
- Examine digital evidence to discover information relevant to the case.
- Report the case and your findings in a document.
- Obtain information from real and virtual devices.
- Gather and examine signs of malicious network activity and network intrusion artifacts.
- Retrace the sequence of actions that resulted in a compromise or breach.
- In criminal proceedings, gather, prepare, examine, and preserve digital evidence.
- Metadata extraction and analysis.
- Work together with the legal, compliance, and HR teams as well as the police.
- Make sure the digital evidence has a chain of custody.
- Case findings should be documented in technical reports.
- Determine potential dangers and make suggestions for increased security.
- Testify at depositions, trials, and other legal proceedings.
Closing thoughts
Digital forensics is a part of the broader field of computer forensics. It encompasses the analysis of digital evidence after a computer has been infected with malware or has otherwise been compromised by an intruder. As of 2018, one of the most significant challenges in the digital forensics field is the amount of digital evidence that is already out there. If a forensics investigator can’t find enough evidence to prosecute a suspect, they can’t do their job.
Digital forensic investigators have to be able to find the right evidence; otherwise, they can’t do their job. They have to understand the law and be able to evaluate the impact of digital evidence on cases. They have to be able to work with a team of experts such as legal, compliance, and HR teams as well as the police. They also have to be able to testify at depositions and trials. Another major challenge for digital forensics investigators is to handle potential dangers and make recommendations for increased security.
Hope you enjoyed this blog post on the Digital Forensics Investigator career. Well, that will be all for the Day 25 post. Catch you in the next post 😉
