Digital data is one of the most crucial sources of evidence in modern criminal investigations, as it may contain sensitive information that reveals the identity of offenders or details of the crime. Digital data refers to any information stored or transmitted through electronic devices such as computers, smartphones, servers, or networks.<br /><br />Key steps for collecting digital data:<br /><br />Securing the digital crime scene<br />Electronic devices related to the crime must be isolated to prevent data loss or alteration, such as disconnecting them from the internet to avoid remote tampering.<br /><br />Identifying data sources<br />These include hard drives, portable storage devices, smartphones, emails, databases, and network logs.<br /><br />Using specialized forensic tools<br />Tools like FTK Imager or EnCase are employed to extract and copy data while preserving its integrity.<br /><br />Creating forensic images<br />Instead of working on the original evidence, forensic experts create exact copies to ensure that the original data remains unchanged.<br /><br />Documenting the chain of custody<br />Every step in handling the evidence—including who accessed it and when—must be recorded to ensure its admissibility in court.<br /><br />Challenges:<br /><br />Data may be encrypted or deleted quickly.<br /><br />Technical expertise is required to decrypt or recover deleted information.<br /><br />Cloud-based systems complicate data collection due to distributed storage locations.<br /><br />Thus, the collection of digital data is a highly sensitive process that requires technical expertise, strict legal compliance, and rigorous documentation to ensure the reliability of evidence and the achievement of justice.<br />Al-Mustaqbal University, the first university in Iraq