Digital Forensics is the process of uncovering and deciphering digital data to present in court. Malware is software designed with criminal intent. Digital forensic engineers analyze the malware and the digital footprints left behind by it.
Here’s how the evolution of malware impacts digital forensics:
Complexity
Starting out like simple viruses, malware has come a long way over time. The increasing complexity of malware means that you must rely on equally advanced digital forensic techniques, which they must continuously update and improve their practices to keep up.
Time
With the complexity of malware software increasing with time, it takes longer to perform the same tasks. This affects the overall efficiency of digital forensic services. Although innovations in the field constantly try to bring down the time needed.
Evasion
As malware evolves, its traces become increasingly difficult to find. Malware itself has become more elusive as time has passed. To extract data from a system and find evidence of malware requires an experienced digital forensics engineer to carefully sweep the entire device using highly sophisticated tools and techniques. Overall, it’s harder to detect and analyze the criminal activity that malware causes, and you need more experienced professionals to assist.
ATPs
ATPs or Advanced Persistent Attacks are sophisticated attacks that are highly specific to the system or the website, often relying on custom-built software or malware. These are a testament to the degree of sophistication and complexity malware attacks can reach. Experts must use the most recent tools and techniques to deal with them.
Preservation of Evidence
As malware proceeds to become more and more problematic, preserving any evidence of its presence or the impact it’s had is becoming nearly impossible. Malware can be programmed to delete its digital footprints and essentially clean up after itself so it doesn’t get detected in the first place, and if it does, nothing can get back to the criminal employing it.
Collaboration
With the growing elaborateness of malware used to rob companies, hack websites, pause business activities, exact revenge, and perpetrate other terrible crimes, cyber-security professionals, cyber forensics experts, and law enforcement must work together. Only through collaboration between all three will the timely exchange of information benefit us against people who use malware.
Compliance
Professionals must be aware of the latest legal frameworks and policies surrounding malware and handling dangerous malware samples. They should also have all the prior permissions and licenses issued by authorities on the matter. This is to avoid the mishandling of dangerous malware or misuse of it afterward.
Future
In the future, there will be even more complex and sophisticated malware, such as AI malware for example. Experts in the field must anticipate their conception and beat them when it comes to techniques and tools that can mitigate the damage they cause and collect the data needed for legal proceedings.
Conclusion
With evolving malware becoming increasingly troublesome, a digital forensic engineer must continuously remain updated on the newest tools, techniques, and practices against them. Contact us for data forensic expert and more.