If you are an investigator, you may be interested in Cyber Forensics. This branch of computer science focuses on the use of computers to solve crimes. These investigations can take place through various methods. These methods include malware analysis, email forensics, and reverse engineering. The first step in this process is to identify the computer used in the crime.

Malware analysis

Malware analysis is an essential part of the work of cyber forensics investigators. This field involves investigating the malware that is executed on a computer system, revealing details such as file paths, domain names, and IP addresses. It can also identify communications that take place between a computer and an attacker-controlled external server. It is important to be able to identify the source of malware in order to prevent the spread of it.

While conducting malware analysis, digital forensics investigators must also consider ethical and legal issues. They may have to consider how to present the evidence obtained by malware in court or whether or not they are likely to be in violation of any law. They may also have to consider the privacy of data that has been obtained by malware. This may include passwords, usernames, and other private data. It may also contain financial or personal information, such as credit card numbers.

Reverse engineering

For investigators, reverse engineering is an essential tool for gathering evidence. The process involves studying an object in order to extract information that can help them understand how it works. In software, this can include gathering the source code and design documents of the application as well as using tools to identify components.

The use of reverse engineering for investigators is permissible under EU and US laws. But as it involves acquiring digital evidence, it is important to consider legal issues regarding data protection, trade secrets, and intellectual property.

Email forensics

Email forensics is a key element of digital forensics. People send and receive email for a variety of purposes, including business, school, and personal correspondence. These communications are rich in data, and some of it may be illegal. Investigators can use email forensics to investigate crimes.

One of the first things investigators should look for when investigating email is its headers. The headers contain important details such as the sender and recipient’s email addresses. They can be used to build a timeline and case.

Mobile forensics

A mobile forensics team specializes in recovering data from mobile devices. These experts use a variety of techniques to obtain the data they need for a case. Typical methods include hex dump and chip-off. Hex dumps allow investigators to obtain data from mobile devices using binary format. They are usually performed by connecting the device to a forensic workstation. The tool then sends commands to the device and collects the data from its memory.

Cyber forensics investigators can also use forensic software to collect data from a mobile device. This software is useful for collecting evidence from smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices. This software can also access data stored on cloud accounts and servers. However, some data is not accessible due to the device being powered on. Once forensics software extracts the data from the device, a mathematical algorithm is run on it. This produces a unique hash value that identifies the evidence.