What is the primary goal of digital forensics?

The primary goal of digital forensics is to uncover and recover data from digital devices to support an investigation or legal proceedings. This field involves meticulously analyzing electronic evidence to establish what happened during a particular event, often in the context of cybercrime, fraud, or other legal matters. The process includes preserving evidence, acquiring data in a forensically sound manner, and interpreting that data in a way that can be presented in court.

Understanding data integrity and the chain of custody is vital as well, ensuring that the evidence remains unchanged and reliable. This goal is fundamental to the practice as it serves both to provide clarity and to uphold the legal standards required in investigations and prosecutions. Therefore, this answer reflects the core mission of digital forensics, focusing on supporting justice systems through the examination of digital evidence.