What is the primary goal of digital forensics?

The primary goal of digital forensics is to analyze digital data to support legal proceedings. This discipline involves the meticulous collection, preservation, analysis, and presentation of data that can be used as evidence in a court of law. The process ensures that any evidence gathered is legally defensible and can withstand scrutiny in legal contexts.

By focusing on legal proceedings, digital forensics plays a critical role in investigations related to cybercrimes, fraud, data breaches, and other illegal activities. The techniques and methodologies employed in digital forensics are designed to uncover the truth behind digital transactions and interactions, which is essential for supporting or refuting claims in legal matters.

The other options, while relevant to specific aspects of digital forensics work, do not encapsulate the overarching intent of the field. Recovering lost files may be a part of what digital forensic experts do, but it is not the primary focus. Exposing malicious activity is important and can be a byproduct of a forensic investigation but is not the ultimate aim. Maintaining data privacy is a critical concern in digital security, yet it does not align directly with the goals of forensic analysis aimed at supporting legal proceedings.