What Is A Forensic Drive Image?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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A forensic image is

a special type of copy of the original evidence

, it contains all of the data found in the original, but that data is encapsulated in a forensic file format which makes it tamper-proof.

What is disk forensic?

Disk forensics is the

science of extracting forensic information from digital storage media

like Hard disk, USB devices, Firewire devices, CD, DVD, Flash drives, Floppy disks etc.. The process of Disk Forensics are. Identify digital evidence. Seize & Acquire the evidence. Authenticate the evidence.

What is a forensic image of a hard drive?

A forensic clone is also known as a bit-stream image or forensic image. A forensic image of a hard drive

captures everything on the hard drive, from the physical beginning to the physical end

. Performing a “copy and paste” via the operating system is not the same as a forensic clone.

How do you create a forensic disk image?

  1. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the FTK Imager Lite folder within the external HDD.
  2. Run FTK Imager.exe as an administrator (right click -> Run as administrator).
  3. In FTK’s main window, go to File and click on Create Disk Image.
  4. Select Physical Drive as the source evidence type. Click on Next.

What is forensic evidence file?

A forensic copy is

a file-level copy of data from a hard disk

. Before the copies are taken, the parties involved in the discovery process agree what type of files (email, purchase records, timecards, etc.) will be part of the forensic analysis, and then only those files are copied.

Why are forensic images important?

Creating and backing up a forensic image helps

prevent loss of data due to original drive failures

. The loss of data as evidence can be detrimental to legal cases. Forensic imaging can also prevent the loss of critical files in general.

Why is a forensic copy important?

A forensic copy would capture not only the 200GB of visible files and folders, but would also capture the remaining 800GB of unallocated space. This is important to digital forensic investigators because

unallocated space may contain deleted files or other residual data

that can be invaluable during discovery.

What are the storage devices used in forensic department?

  • Solid State Disks (SSD) Solid State Disks (SSD’s) store data with the use of flash-memory chips (called NAND flash memory). …
  • Magnetic Media. Magnetic media store data on a magnetized medium. …
  • Digital Audio Tapes. …
  • Digital Linear Tapes.

How do I analyze a disk image?

  1. First of all, you need to launch Disk Image Viewer application. …
  2. Go to open button and select any file format i.e., E01,DMG,DD as per your need.
  3. In the next step, click Browse>> Scan to proceed further.

What digital forensics do?

Digital forensics is

the scientific acquisition, analysis, and preservation of data contained in electronic media whose information can be used as evidence in a court of law

. The practice of digital forensics can be a career unto itself, and often is.

How do I take an image of my hard drive?

  1. Step One: Open System Image Backup. …
  2. Step Two: Create a System Image Backup. …
  3. Step Three: Create a System Repair Disc.

How does FTK work?

Forensic Toolkit, or FTK, is a computer forensics software made by AccessData. It

scans a hard drive looking for various information

. It can, for example, potentially locate deleted emails and scan a disk for text strings to use them as a password dictionary to crack encryption.

What is FTK imaging?

FTK® Imager is

a data preview and imaging tool that lets you quickly assess electronic evidence to determine

if further analysis with a forensic tool such as Forensic Toolkit (FTK®) is warranted.

What are examples of forensic evidence?


Fingerprints, footprints, hair, fibers, blood and other bodily fluids, knives, bullets, guns, paint

, and many other objects and substances, even soil, can link a suspect to the scene.

Which is the standard forensic image format used?


EnCase

is one of the most common image file formats created in forensic imaging. An EnCase image is a proprietary file type created by Guidance Software’s EnCase software for use with its software packages.

What is mirror image in cyber forensics?

What is a mirror image? A full image backup, or mirror backup, is

an exact replica of everything on your computer’s hard drive

, from the operating system, boot information, apps, and hidden files to your preferences and settings.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.