http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1742287611000727 The growing impact of full disk encryption on digital forensics Eoghan Caseya, Corresponding Author Contact Information, E-mail The Corresponding Author, Geoff Fellowsb, Matthew Geigerc, Gerasimos Stellatosd a cmdLabs, 1101 E. 33rd Street, Suite C301, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States b LG Training Partnership, United Kingdom c CERT, United States d CACI International, United States Received 16 March 2011; revised 17 September 2011; Accepted 24 September 2011. Available online 6 November 2011. Abstract The increasing use of full disk encryption (FDE) can significantly hamper digital investigations, potentially preventing access to all digital evidence in a case. The practice of shutting down an evidential computer is not an acceptable technique when dealing with FDE or even volume encryption because it may result in all data on the device being rendered inaccessible for forensic examination. To address this challenge, there is a pressing need for more effective on-scene capabilities to detect and preserve encryption prior to pulling the plug. In addition, to give digital investigators the best chance of obtaining decrypted data in the field, prosecutors need to prepare search warrants with FDE in mind. This paper describes how FDE has hampered past investigations, and how circumventing FDE has benefited certain cases. This paper goes on to provide guidance for gathering items at the crime scene that may be useful for accessing encrypted data, and for performing on-scene forensic acquisitions of live computer systems. These measures increase the chances of acquiring digital evidence in an unencrypted state or capturing an encryption key or passphrase. Some implications for drafting and executing search warrants to dealing with FDE are discussed. Keywords: Digital forensics; Full disk encryption; Hard drive encryption; Volatile data; Memory forensics