Digital Forensics : Digital Evidence in Criminal Investigations

Digital evidence is now regularly used in the investigation of most criminal activities. Taking a holistic approach to the subject, Digital Forensics provides a clear understanding of how digital evidence complements "traditional" scientific evidence and how it can be used more effectively in a range of criminal investigations.

The vast majority of modern criminal investigations involve some element of digital evidence, from mobile phones, computers, CCTV and other devices. Digital Forensics: Digital Evidence in Criminal Investigations provides the reader with a better understanding of how digital evidence complements “traditional” scientific evidence and examines how it can be used more effectively and efficiently in a range of investigations. Taking a new approach to the topic, this book presents digital evidence as an adjunct to other types of evidence and discusses how it can be deployed effectively in support of investigations. The book provides investigators/SSMs/other managers with sufficient contextual and technical information to be able to make more effective use of digital evidence sources in support of a range of investigations. In particular, it considers the roles played by digital devices in society and hence in criminal activities. From this, it examines the role and nature of evidential data which may be recoverable from a range of devices, considering issues relating to reliability and usefulness of those data.  Includes worked case examples, test questions and review quizzes to enhance student understandingSolutions provided in an accompanying websiteIncludes numerous case studies throughout to highlight how digital evidence is handled at the crime scene and what can happen when procedures are carried out incorrectlyConsiders digital evidence in a broader context alongside other scientific evidenceDiscusses the role of digital devices in criminal activities and provides methods for the evaluation and prioritizing of evidence sourcesIncludes discussion of the issues surrounding modern digital evidence examinations, for example; volume of material and its complexityClear overview of all types of digital evidence  Digital Forensics: Digital Evidence in Criminal Investigations is an invaluable text for undergraduate students taking either general forensic science courses where digital forensics may be a module or a dedicated computer/digital forensics degree course. The book is also a useful overview of the subject for postgraduate students and forensic practitioners.