How can a TA verify the integrity of collected digital evidence?

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Maintaining the trustworthiness of collected digital evidence relies on measures that both detect tampering and prevent it. Cryptographic hashes give a unique fingerprint of the data at the moment of collection; by computing and recording the hash, you can later rehash the data and confirm it hasn’t changed. Write-protected storage stops any modification after capture, ensuring the original data remains intact. Chain-of-custody procedures document every handoff, access, and action taken with the evidence, creating a clear, auditable trail of accountability that supports admissibility and helps identify where anything might have occurred. Together, these practices provide a robust framework for evidence integrity, far more reliable than relying on memory or storing data in insecure locations. Re-hashing after duplication can help verify copies, but without the protections of write-protected storage and an established chain of custody, it doesn’t fully guarantee integrity.