Effects of chemical & biological warfare agent decontaminants on trace survival: Impact on digital media

Abstract

Digital media are valuable assets for forensic investigations, offering essential data for reconstructing events and understanding activities. In scenarios where biological or chemical contaminants, such as hazardous pathogens or toxic chemicals, must be removed, it is important to understand how decontamination processes affect digital evidence. This study evaluates the impact on digital media of sixteen decontaminants, encompassing various chemical mechanisms and application methods, that could be used in mass decontamination scenarios. This work complements previously published results concerning the decontamination effects on fingermarks and DNA. Through a comprehensive analysis involving physical inspection, responsiveness testing, and data integrity verification, the study assessed the effects of these decontamination means on USB drives, microSD cards and hard drives and the data they withhold. The findings indicate that while some minor impacts were observed, overall, the decontaminants did not impede data retrieval or integrity. Challenges may arise over time since corrosion residues were observed, emphasizing the importance of rapid action and thorough cleaning of the media. Although on-site data retrieval can be imagined with single use equipment and personal protective equipment for incidents involving chemical or biological agents, our observations suggest that alternative approaches involving media decontamination may be considered due to the resilience of digital media.