The chain of custody is a critical process in handling evidence, especially in cybercrime cases, where digital evidence can be easily altered or compromised. It ensures that every individual who handled the evidence is documented and that the evidence remained secure and unaltered during the investigation.
It documents:
→ Who collected the evidence
→ Where it was stored
→ Who accessed it
→ When they accessed it
→ What actions were performed on it
This meticulous tracking is crucial for establishing the integrity and authenticity of the evidence, making it admissible in court. If the chain of custody is broken (i.e., there's a gap in the documentation or evidence of tampering), the evidence may be deemed inadmissible, potentially jeopardizing the entire case.
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A) Reducing storage costs is unrelated to the purpose of the chain of custody.
C) While organizing evidence efficiently may help the investigation, it is not the primary purpose of the chain of custody.
D) Protecting investigators from legal liability is not directly addressed by the chain of custody, although following proper protocols may help mitigate risks.