What does the acronym ‘E01’ stand for in digital forensics?

The acronym ‘E01’ stands for the EnCase Image File format, which is a proprietary file format developed by Guidance Software for use in digital forensics. This format is essential for preserving the integrity and authenticity of digital evidence during the forensic investigation process. E01 files are used to create images of hard drives or other storage media, allowing forensic analysts to examine and analyze the data without altering the original source.

This file format includes not only the data from the source drive but also metadata, such as checksums and the physical layout of the original data. This ensures that the digital evidence can be reliably used in court. EnCase, as a widely recognized tool in the field of digital forensics, leverages this format to safeguard evidence and streamline the investigative process.