How database forensic helps at investigation for law enforcement agencies

Introduction

What role does database forensics play in law enforcement investigations? The term forensics literally means the use of some form of established scientific procedure for the collecting, analysis, and presenting of evidence. However, all types of evidence are crucial, particularly when a cyber-attack has happened or a law enforcement agency is investigating.

Database forensics is a field that combines aspects of law, data, and database management systems (DBMS) to collect and analyze data from computer systems, networks, wireless communications, and storage devices in a way that may be used as evidence in court.

Obviously, after a cyberattack, gathering all relevant data is critical in order to answer the concerns listed above. Keep in mind, however, that the forensic investigator is particularly interested in a certain kind of evidence known as latent data.

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Even so, in this post, we will define database forensics, its categories, and the tools used to conduct forensic analysis for inquiry.

Why is database forensics required?

In the field of cyber security, this sort of data, also known as ambient data, cannot be seen or accessed at the scene of a cyber assault at first look. In other words, a considerably higher degree of inquiry by a computer or database forensic expert is required to uncover them.

This data obviously has numerous applications, but it was designed in such a way that access to it has been severely restricted. These are the primary purposes of applying database forensics in the case of a security compromise. It aids in the recovery, analysis, and preservation of the computer and related materials so that the investigating agency may submit them as evidence in a court of law. It aids in determining the reason for the crime and the identity of the primary perpetrator. Create procedures at a suspected crime scene to assist guarantee that digital evidence is not tainted.

What role does database forensics play?

People can conceal information in a variety of ways. Some applications can fool computers by altering the data in file headers.

A file header is typically invisible to people, yet it is critical. It informs the computer about the type of file to which the header is associated. If you renamed an mp3 file with a .gif extension, the computer would recognize it as an mp3 because of the information in the header. Some apps enable you to modify the information in the header so that the computer believes the file is something else.

Other applications may divide files into small chunks and conceal each segment at the end of other files. Unused space in files is sometimes referred to as slack space. You may conceal files by making use of this slack area with the correct application. The buried information is extremely tough to recover and reconstruct.

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It's also feasible to conceal one file within another. Executable files are especially problematic. Packers may insert executable files into other sorts of files, whereas linkers can unite several executable files.

Another method for concealing data is encryption. To render data unreadable, you encrypt it with a sophisticated set of principles known as an algorithm. Anyone wishing to read the data would require the encryption key. Detectives must utilize computer programs intended to crack the encryption technique in the absence of the key. The more complex the algorithm, the more time it will take to crack it without a key.

Other anti-forensic techniques can modify the information associated with files. If the metadata is tainted, it is more difficult to present the evidence as trustworthy.

Some individuals employ computer anti-forensics to highlight the vulnerability and unreliability of computer data. How can you use computer evidence in court if you don't know when a file was produced, last viewed, or even existed?

What is the significance of database forensics in the future?

With the proliferation of digital gadgets and online activities, the bulk of crimes will be perpetrated online in the future.

As a result, a database forensic investigation might identify when a document initially appeared on a computer, when it was last changed, saved, or printed, and which user did these acts. It aids in the rapid identification of evidence and enables the estimation of the probable impact of malicious action on the victim.

Database forensics is extremely important for a business or enterprise. For example, it is commonly assumed that just bolstering lines of defense with firewalls, routers, and so on will suffice to withstand any cyber-attack.

However, considering the incredibly sophisticated nature of today's cyber hackers, the security professional understands this is not the case.

This premise is likewise false from the standpoint of computer forensics. While these specialized pieces of the hardware give some information about what happened in general during a cyber assault, they sometimes lack the deeper layer of data to provide those hints about exactly what transpired.

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This emphasizes the importance of the organization implementing security safeguards in addition to the outdated technology that can supply this specific data. Security devices that use artificial intelligence, machine learning, and business analytics are examples of this.

It is often used to combat network assaults. It is frequently used to monitor a network in order to detect unusual traffic or an approaching assault. On the other side, it is used to gather evidence by analyzing network traffic data in order to pinpoint the origin of an assault.

As a result, the deployment of this sort of security architecture, which incorporates computer forensic techniques, is also known as Defense in depth.

With this exact data, there is a far better possibility that the evidence submitted in court will be declared acceptable, bringing the culprits of the cyber assault to justice.

Conclusion

Furthermore, by using Defense in Depth concepts, the organization or corporation may simply comply with laws and regulatory demands. All forms of data must be saved and stored for auditing reasons. If an entity fails to comply with any of the requirements, it may suffer serious financial penalties. As a result, database forensics is required here to ensure a thorough investigation for law enforcement authorities.