This must always be the first step due to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, especially the Fourth Amendment. Please remember that this protects United States citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures.   If anything is located without a warrant, it will most likely not be admissible in a court of law. 

This step is critical as it involves meticulously documenting the evidence from the moment it's collected until it is presented in court. The chain of custody is a legally binding record that tracks evidence possession, handling, and transfer throughout the investigative process. It ensures the integrity and authenticity of the evidence by demonstrating who had access to it and when.

It is imperative never to examine the original data directly. Instead, it is essential to create a copy of the original media to prevent any potential modification or damage during examination. That is why we will dedicate time in this course to learning how to create a forensic image. Additionally, utilizing a hashing algorithm to generate hash values for both the original and the forensic image is recommended. Comparing these hash values helps ensure that no changes have been made during the investigation process.

It is essential to validate the tools that you will be using. You want to ensure the tools work as expected and do not influence the data/evidence that has been located. This validation process should be documented. 

It's essential for you to document each step and the methodology used throughout the process. This documentation ensures consistent results can be achieved and reproduced, regardless of whether you or someone else conducts the forensic evaluation. 

On a side note - the image is a Mandelbrot set, which you can see repeats itself repeatedly. 

Examiners employ their skills and a range of tools to locate artifacts and interpret them accurately. It's crucial to avoid introducing bias into the results 

The client, organization, or legal team will dictate the report's requirements, which may vary in length. It is essential to include all artifacts and interpretations of the results. Remember, not everyone may be tech-savvy, so creating a readable and understandable report is essential.

Depending on the case, you may need to present your findings to a judge and jury. Just as in the report, avoiding technical jargon and keeping your communication simple is crucial. Ensuring that everyone understands your message is essential. Effective communication is vital in conveying your points accurately. Remember, someone is relying on you!