CSEC661 Instruction and Criteria for Individual Assignment #3. Interview Methodology for Digital Forensics

Interview Methodology for Digital Forensics
Date
Student’s Name
Interview Methodology for Digital Forensics
Introduction
The primary responsibility of a digital forensics interviewer is to gather information from the victim or the perpetrator regarding the details of the digital crime. Interview methodology is one of the traditional methodologies of collecting data that is still the viable and reliable method of collecting primary data from participants. In today’s digital era, a forensic investigator will be interested in interviewing victims or perpetrators of child pornography, cyberbullying, hacking, and internet fraud. Any online crime or a crime committed over the internet will attract the attention of a forensic investigator. For a successful interview process, the forensic examiner has to make enough preparation regarding information about the background of the case and the interviewee. The interviewer has to gather information about the interviewee’s criminal records, professional status, age, and occupational status. Availability of this prior information, before conducting an interview is necessary for standardized interview methodology. This paper provides a standardized approach for conducting forensic interview methods. The paper focuses on methods of conducting forensic interviews, including methods of collecting data and recording with the intention of providing the forensic examiner with resources at any time.
Interview Information Areas
The key to resolving digital crimes is hidden in the information that the forensic examiner collects from the victim or the perpetrator of the crime. During the interview process, new details may emerge that may help the forensic examiner uncover details about the interviewee and other people that may help in resolving the crime (Rowlinson, 2004). The successful interview process will require that the forensic examiner collects information about victims, their social and professional status, their area of occupation, level of education, as well as information about suspected perpetrators and their details. A standardized interview methodology will only succeed in areas where the interviewer is prepared with detailed information as well as the ability to a possible interpretation of the data collected. According to Ashcroft et al. (2014), there are different methods of conducting a digital forensic interview. However, the investigator should always answer simple questions like who, where, when, what, and why.
According to Mushtaque, Ahsan, and Umer (2015), the investigator should obtain a search warrant in the initial interview process. In cases where the crime involves a minor, the examiner should gather information as fast as possible to protect the minor from potential harm. In cases where the investigation is already determined, and the forensic examiner has acquired detailed information about the type of the crime, the investigator should resolve to start by creating a plan of action. The first item on the list should be the gathering of information, even if the forensic investigator has already acquired the information. This is necessary to compile a report. The digital forensic investigator should make sure that:
He evaluates ...