This is a HOT question! These demands are being done across the board with no real guidelines. There really are only 2 ways to preserve Electronic Data. STOP using the device and disconnect it from ANY connectivity. Leaving it sit unused in the same status as when you received the notice. Get an immediate forensic Extraction of the device We have a focused topic on this in our blog.

FAQs Archive - Leverage Private Investigators and Digital Forensics

Q: What is Vehicle Forensics

This is an newly termed process to obtain evidence data from a vehicle's infotainment system. Traditionally it was used for the EDR (Event Data Recorder) to be used for crash reconstruction analysis, but it has grown past that. Modern infotainment system provide more than just AM/FM/ Satellite radio now. Gone are CD slots. Now these advanced radios offer a connection to your phone and the services it provides, as well as connectivity with vehicle data to make your car function in a more user friendly way. Providing you entrainment as well as info about the vehicle like GPS directions on the screen. That data can now be obtained and analyzed thru vehicle forensics and a download of the USER data and VEHICLE data it has obtained. Contact us to see how we can provide Vehicle Forensics to help you get insight and closure to an investigative case.

Q: What do you use for Vehicle Forensics?

This is NOT examining the EDR or (Event Data Recorder) or the Black Box, that is normally done with a Bosch or other branded system relating to only the EDR. The EDR is traditionally the primary source of data for crash reconstruction. The data from an infotainment can recover some facts that can assist in crash reconstruction and not available in that EDR download. We use the only forensics system on the market from BERLA forensics. We are one of a handful of private entities that have been given access to this forensic software, hardware and system. There is Nothing else than can do this forensic exam. The majority of OEM brands are covered. Sorry No Tesla. Email or call us for a review of your case to see what data might be available for your specific case.

Q: How long will a phone forensic exam take?

This is dependent on knowing the make, model and memory capacity of the device as well as functioning condition. Best average is about 1.5 hours but they have gone up to 6 hours. The battery should be as close to 100% as possible. The data (charging port) needs to functioning normally. How much does the device owner use it and for what purpose? What is Memory capacity of the device?

Q: How long does a vehicle forensic exam take?

Remove or access to the module can take up to an hour or more. It can take from 10 minutes to 40 hours to download data depending on the vehicle and the system installed. The car systems are on a can-bus system (network) and process data much slower than what your accustom to on a phone or PC. imagine it as a 14.4k dial up modem.

Q: How could cell phones and the data contained within help me?

The majority of people in the modern world use a smart phone. The flip phone is dead, but we can still get data from those phones. I can venture to say that if you want real answers, the truth lies in the 1's and 0's. Unless they are a master criminal, the phone will contain evidence you need to get answers, find proof, disprove or prove an allegation. Or even create new questions to investigated. Phones now are tracking you and keep records internally of what your doing with that phone, and even what your doing with that phone in your pocket. As we tell defendant's in any court case, unless the phone evidence recovery is done correctly it can be rejected as evidence. Our experts can not only get that data for you , but also act as expert witnesses in review the phone evidence against you. A person at some point used their phone during an incident under investigation. Either they were actively involved or coordinating, or just a victim. There should be data indicating something. Call us for a free consultation on how a forensics phone exam could benefit you.

Q: Are there any guarantees when it comes to digital forensics?

The truthful answer is NO. With a vehicle you can predict accurately what data types are potentially recoverable, based upon year, make and model of the car. Same with a phone. With a phone or tablet, the device could of been wiped, destroyed or altered prior to the exam. Some steps to remove data cannot be overcome with standard forensics. The only guarantee is that data obtained will be documented correctly, easily reviewed and analyzed.