Take detailed photographs of the scene, including screen contents, device serial numbers (IMEI for phones), and physical connections.
Log every individual who handles the evidence, including the date, time, and purpose of the interaction. Field vs. Lab Considerations Best Practices for Computer Forensics Take detailed photographs of the scene, including screen
Before powering down, assess the need to capture RAM or "live" data, especially if encryption software is active. Take detailed photographs of the scene
Generate cryptographic hashes (MD5 or SHA-1/SHA-256) of both the original data and the forensic image to verify they are bit-for-bit identical. including screen contents
Use hardware write-blockers during acquisition to prevent any changes to the original source media.