Forensic Focus

Hosted by Forensic Focus: Digital Forensics, Incident Response, DFIR

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Jun 2026

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Digital forensics discussion for computer forensics, DFIR and eDiscovery professionals. Visit Forensic Focus at forensicfocus.com for more.

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June 5, 20261 hr 1 min

Leica's Marcus Rowe On Investigating The World's Largest Crash Test, Plus What To Expect At FEE 2026

Marcus Rowe, Business Director – Public Safety & Forensics at Leica Geosystems, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to talk about 3D laser scanning, forensic digital twins, and the role of LiDAR in modern crime and collision investigation. Marcus shares his path from military and civilian policing — including a career in forensic collision investigation with Devon & Cornwall Police — into industry, and explains how Leica Geosystems (part of Hexagon) is empowering investigators with tools that capture entire scenes for analysis, courtroom presentation, and cold case review. Marcus and Si also discuss the upcoming Forensics Europe Expo at Olympia on 1–2 July, which is set to bring together senior leaders, practitioners and solution providers from across the forensic community. To learn more and secure a free visitor pass, visit: https://www.forensicseuropeexpo.com. The conversation also turns to Marcus's involvement in the world's largest crash test, featured in the Channel 4 documentary Pile Up. Working blind to the staged scenario, Marcus reconstructed the multi-vehicle collision from post-event scene capture and 3D modelling — at times surfacing detail that the 90 cameras filming the event had missed. #LiDAR #3DScanning #CrashInvestigation #ForensicDigitalTwins #LeicaGeosystems #DigitalForensics #DFIR ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Welcome Marcus Rowe 02:44 From Policing to Leica Geosystems 05:35 Leica Conference Highlights 08:43 Forensic Digital Twins Talk 17:55 What to Expect at FEE 22:29 Students and Career Pathways 26:08 World's Largest Crash Test 31:07 LiDAR Explained Simply 34:36 Courtroom Storytelling in 3D 36:02 Real Cases and Proof Standards 38:40 TV Production 41:20 Micron Accuracy Use Cases 42:25 Footprints Without Contact 46:56 From Microns to Kilometers 50:35 VR for Juries and Trust 52:04 Holistic Capture Beats Bias 56:02 FEE Event Invitation 01:00:36 Wrap Up 👉 Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com 🎧 Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/leicas-marcus-rowe-on-investigating-the-worlds-largest-crash-test-plus-what-to-expect-at-fee-2026/ 📝 Show Notes Leica Geosystems – https://leica-geosystems.com Hexagon – https://hexagon.com Leica DISTO – https://shop.leica-geosystems.com/disto Forensics Europe Expo (FEE) – https://www.forensicseuropeexpo.com Channel 4 "Pile Up" documentary – https://www.channel4.com/programmes/pile-up-worlds-biggest-crash-test 👉 Follow Forensic Focus RSS | https://www.forensicfocus.com/feed YouTube | https://youtube.com/@ForensicFocus Podcast | https://forensicfocus.com/podcast LinkedIn Page | https://linkedin.com/company/forensicfocus LinkedIn Group | https://linkedin.com/groups/693917 X (Twitter) | https://x.com/ForensicFocus Facebook | https://facebook.com/forensicfocus Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/forensicfocus.bsky.social Instagram | https://instagram.com/forensicfocus TikTok | https://tiktok.com/@forensicfocus Mastodon | https://dfir.social/@forensicfocus

May 28, 202655 min

Burnout, PTSD, Suicidal Thoughts – The DFIR Well-Being Study Results Are In

Phil Anderson, Senior Lecturer at Northumbria University, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to talk about the Forensic Focus International Well-Being Study. Phil and host Paul Gullon-Scott unpack the findings from a survey of 179 digital forensic investigators across the UK, US, Australia, Canada, Germany, South Africa, India, and beyond. The study used validated psychometric instruments to put hard numbers behind what the profession has been hearing anecdotally for years. Paul and Phil dig into the emerging impact of AI-generated CSAM, where 60% of respondents reported finding it slightly more distressing than real material — and where victim identification is beginning to break down as the realism of generated imagery improves. They also examine the most clinically significant finding in the study: 20% of digital forensic investigators reported active suicidal or self-harm ideation at a clinically significant frequency, roughly four times the general population rate. Set against 61% of respondents lacking access to good-quality support services, alongside hypervigilance, sleep disturbance, retention risk, and physical health symptoms, the picture is one Forensic Focus is taking directly to the UK Home Office. #DigitalForensics #DFIR #MentalHealth #InvestigatorWellbeing #CSAM #AIGeneratedCSAM #LawEnforcement 00:00 Welcome and Study Intro 00:38 Meet Phil and Motivation 03:23 Survey Scope and Global Reach 07:53 Who Responded and Why It Matters 09:38 Methodology and Validated Measures 11:38 Workload Pressures and AI Factor 15:21 Top Stressors and Management Levers 20:29 Burnout Risk and Retention Crisis 25:56 AI Generated CSAM Findings 31:36 AI Victim Misidentification 32:42 Investigator Stress Burden 33:27 Tech Outpacing Regulation 36:28 PTSD Symptom Findings 38:06 Judgment Under Trauma 40:14 Suicidal Ideation Data 45:16 Support Services Crisis 46:42 Physical Health Impacts 50:03 Report Next Steps 👉 Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com 🎧 Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/burnout-ptsd-suicidal-thoughts-the-dfir-well-being-study-results-are-in/ 📝 Show Notes Northumbria University – https://www.northumbria.ac.uk Paul Gullon-Scott on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-g-0090605/ Phil Anderson on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-anderson-a555377/ 👉 Follow Forensic Focus RSS | https://www.forensicfocus.com/feed YouTube | https://youtube.com/@ForensicFocus Podcast | https://forensicfocus.com/podcast LinkedIn Page | https://linkedin.com/company/forensicfocus LinkedIn Group | https://linkedin.com/groups/693917 X (Twitter) | https://x.com/ForensicFocus Facebook | https://facebook.com/forensicfocus Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/forensicfocus.bsky.social Instagram | https://instagram.com/forensicfocus TikTok | https://tiktok.com/@forensicfocus Mastodon | https://dfir.social/@forensicfocus

May 19, 20261 hr 1 min

On-Scene Digital Forensics: Winning Investigations Before The Lab

Stuart Hutchinson, VP of Sales at ADF Solutions, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to talk about on-scene digital forensics and empowering first responders during the golden hour. Stuart shares his journey from 23 years with the Met Police — including a chance encounter in a New Scotland Yard lift that led him into Mac forensics and the vendor space at BlackBag, Cellebrite, Oxygen, and now ADF. With 99.9% of investigations involving a digital element, he argues that mishandling digital evidence at the scene is as damaging as trampling through traditional forensic evidence. The conversation covers ADF's preview mode and search profile methodology, which gives first responders advanced logical acquisitions in minutes rather than 45+ minutes for a full extraction. Stuart explains how one UK force cut lab submissions by over 40% using an intelligence-led CAID hash triage strategy, and the team discuss locked-down search profiles built at DFU level, managing collateral intrusion, building trust with victims and witnesses, and ADF's screen capture and OCR for Chromebooks, PlayStations, Xboxes, and anything with HDMI out. #ADFSolutions #OnSceneTriage #MobileForensics #CAID #CSAM #FirstResponders #DigitalForensics #DFIR 00:00 Introducing Stuart Hutchinson and ADF Solutions 02:13 From Met to Mac Forensics 07:26 Why On Scene Triage 08:01 Golden Hour Decisions 13:24 What to Triage First 16:26 ADF Field Kit Overview 18:04 Preview Mode Workflow 22:34 Search Profiles and Staging 26:38 Investigator Over Automation 28:11 Impact and CSAM Hashing 29:34 CAID Hash Triage Strategy 32:45 Efficiency Versus Thoroughness 35:07 Locked Search Profiles 37:20 Training For Limitations 42:46 Device Security Pressures 44:45 From Triage To Full Forensics 47:44 Victim Witness Phone Trust 52:27 Screen Capture And OCR 57:49 Wrap Up And Resources 👉 Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com 🎧 Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/on-scene-digital-forensics-winning-investigations-before-the-lab/ 📝 Show Notes ADF Solutions – https://adfsolutions.com/ ADF Weekly Training Sessions – https://adfsolutions.com/weekly-training-sessions/ 👉 Follow Forensic Focus RSS | https://www.forensicfocus.com/feed YouTube | https://youtube.com/@ForensicFocus Podcast | https://forensicfocus.com/podcast LinkedIn Page | https://linkedin.com/company/forensicfocus LinkedIn Group | https://linkedin.com/groups/693917 X (Twitter) | https://x.com/ForensicFocus Facebook | https://facebook.com/forensicfocus Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/forensicfocus.bsky.social Instagram | https://instagram.com/forensicfocus TikTok | https://tiktok.com/@forensicfocus Mastodon | https://dfir.social/@forensicfocus

May 14, 202647 min

How Distressing Material Shapes Investigator Well-Being

Dr. Fazeelat Duran, Assistant Professor in Psychology at the University of Birmingham, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to talk about the psychological impact of working with distressing material in law enforcement roles. Drawing on her recent longitudinal study — the first of its kind to follow newly recruited secondary investigators and analysts from day one through 18 months in role — Dr. Duran explains how repeated, indirect exposure to traumatic material shapes mental health over time. She walks through the trajectory her team observed at six, 12, and 18 months, the concept of "dosage of exposure," and why early warning signs often go hidden in the first six months when the novelty effect masks the emotional toll to come. The conversation then turns to coping strategies, the difference between adaptive and maladaptive responses (including the trap of thought suppression), and the idea of a psychological contract between staff and the organisation — and what happens when that contract is breached through unmanageable workloads, limited staffing, and a lack of allocated time for well-being resources. Dr. Duran and host Paul also discuss what organisations should be doing differently, why a one-size-fits-all approach to support fails this group, and the next phase of Dr. Duran's work, including brain imaging findings and a new study on neurodivergence in this workforce. #SecondaryTraumaticStress #MentalHealth #LawEnforcement #Wellbeing #PsychologicalContract #DigitalForensics #DFIR 00:00 Introducing Dr Fazeelat Duran 02:09 Secondary Trauma Explained 03:42 Research Gap and Longitudinal Study Design 11:17 Early Warning Signs 12:51 Proactive Tailored Support 18:02 Mixed Methods Evidence 19:49 Dosage of Exposure 22:59 Daily Volume and Attrition 25:16 Coping Shifts Over Time 26:45 Maladaptive Coping Patterns 29:05 Isolation and Social Strain 30:34 Workload and AI Pressure 33:08 Psychological Contract Breach 35:23 Building a Caring Culture 37:25 Early Support and Preparation 40:27 Signs, Symptoms and Self Care 42:30 Neurodivergence Research 44:51 Closing Reflections 👉 Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com 🎧 Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/how-distressing-material-shapes-investigator-well-being/ 📝 Show Notes Ongoing Exposure to Distressing Material is Associated with Worsening Mental Health in UK Law Enforcement Staff: a Longitudinal Interview Study – https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11896-026-09809-2 Dr Fazeelat Duran, University of Birmingham – https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/profiles/psychology/duran-fazeelat National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) Academic Centres of Excellence – https://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/npcc-creating-nine-policing-academic-centres-of-excellence-p-aces 👉 Follow Forensic Focus RSS | https://www.forensicfocus.com/feed YouTube | https://youtube.com/@ForensicFocus Podcast | https://forensicfocus.com/podcast LinkedIn Page | https://linkedin.com/company/forensicfocus LinkedIn Group | https://linkedin.com/groups/693917 X (Twitter) | https://x.com/ForensicFocus Facebook | https://facebook.com/forensicfocus Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/forensicfocus.bsky.social Instagram | https://instagram.com/forensicfocus TikTok | https://tiktok.com/@forensicfocus Mastodon | https://dfir.social/@forensicfocus

May 7, 20261 hr 20 min

DFIR In 2026 – AI 'Button Pusher' Forensics, Writing Courtroom Reports, Audio Breakthroughs And The Leica Geosystems Conference

Si and Desi discuss a range of digital forensics topics, from writing forensic reports that juries can actually understand, to whether AI is coming for "button pusher" DFIR jobs. They explore plain language standards, the classic confusion between forensic "images" and pictures, and Brett Shavers' provocative blog post on AI and job security — leading into a wider discussion about the distinction between technicians and analysts in digital forensics. Si shares highlights from the Leica Geosystems Conference, including fascinating audio forensics research by Henry Vega on deriving vehicle speeds and weapon calibers from sound recordings, and Swedish police reconstructions of a mass shooting using audio evidence and Unreal Engine walkthroughs. The pair also explore the forensic challenges of AI-generated code, agentic processes on endpoints, and the security risks of consumer AI tools. #DFIR #DigitalForensics #AI #PrivacyParadox #AudioForensics 00:00 Welcome 00:34 Writing Clear Forensic Reports 01:20 Visual Timelines and Storytelling 06:52 Jargon Pitfalls and Glossaries 10:50 Old Media and Blu-Ray News 12:16 UPS Backups and Failing NAS 16:58 AI Will Replace Button Pushers 18:58 Technician vs Analyst Debate 25:54 Backlogs, Privacy and Evidence 34:39 Privacy Paradox and Distrust 42:45 AI Writes Podcast Intro 43:52 Copyright Lawsuit Talk 45:24 Claude vs ChatGPT Coding 48:48 Forensic Traces of AI 50:16 Agentic IR Attribution 53:43 Consumer Agents Security Risks 59:13 Leica Conference Highlights 01:01:09 Audio Forensics Breakthroughs 01:06:44 Image Forgery History 01:12:58 Chunnel Travel 01:17:36 Wrap-Up 👉 Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com 🎧 Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/dfir-in-2026-ai-button-pusher-forensics-writing-courtroom-reports-audio-breakthroughs-and-the-leica-geosystems-conference/ Show Notes 'If you suck at your DFIR job, AI is going to take it.' (Brett Shavers) – https://brettshavers.com/brett-s-blog/entry/if-you-suck-at-your-dfir-job-ai-is-going-to-take-it 'Sony shuts down production of recordable CD-R, DVD-R and BD-R discs' (Azernews) – https://www.azernews.az/region/228058.html Ross Ulbricht (Wikipedia) – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Ulbricht 'Regulator contacts Meta over workers watching intimate AI glasses videos' (BBC) – https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0q33nvj0qpo 'Why people don't demand data privacy – even as governments and corporations collect more personal information' (The Conversation) – https://theconversation.com/why-people-dont-demand-data-privacy-even-as-governments-and-corporations-collect-more-personal-information-262197 'Evaluating privacy - determining user privacy expectations on the web' (Science Direct) – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167404821000651 'The privacy paradox: Stay one step ahead of it' (Data Guard) – https://www.dataguard.com/blog/privacy-paradox/ Oxford Guide to Plain English (Amazon) – https://amzn.eu/d/09dj8Gr8 Placing the Suspect Behind the Keyboard: Using Digital Forensics and Investigative Techniques to Identify Cybercrime Suspects (Amazon) – https://amzn.eu/d/08fpfTny 👉 Follow Forensic Focus RSS | https://www.forensicfocus.com/feed YouTube | https://youtube.com/@ForensicFocus Podcast | https://forensicfocus.com/podcast LinkedIn Page | https://linkedin.com/company/forensicfocus LinkedIn Group | https://linkedin.com/groups/693917 X (Twitter) | https://x.com/ForensicFocus Facebook | https://facebook.com/forensicfocus Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/forensicfocus.bsky.social Instagram | https://instagram.com/forensicfocus TikTok | https://tiktok.com/@forensicfocus Mastodon | https://dfir.social/@forensicfocus

April 13, 202653 min

Policing's Well-Being Problem: Stigma, Isolation And The Retention Crisis

Dr Sarah-Jane Lennie, Associate Professor at the Centre of Excellence for Equity in Uniformed Public Services at Anglia Ruskin University, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to talk about mental health and well-being in policing — and the often-overlooked toll on police families. Drawing on 17 years as a police officer before moving into academia, Dr Lennie shares the moment her own mental health forced a career-defining decision, and how that experience shaped her research into the culture of silencing, stigma, and emotional masking that still pervades policing today. She explains why the context of policing — the trauma, threat, and violence — is not what harms officers most; it's how they're treated by the organisation afterwards. Dr Lennie describes the isolation partners face, the vicarious trauma they absorb while debriefing their officers, the intergenerational patterns that pull children of police into the same job with the same emotional rules, and the practical support families are asking for. She also discusses the Leapwise National Police Wellbeing Survey, the shift away from "resilience" messaging, the role of the academic working group at Anglia Ruskin, and why properly evaluating interventions is the only way to secure lasting change. #PoliceWellbeing #PoliceFamilies #MentalHealth #PoliceMentalHealth #VicariousTrauma #DigitalForensics #dfir ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Introducing Dr Sarah-Jane Lennie 02:40 From Policing to Academia 03:51 Mental Health Breaking Point 06:54 Culture of Silence 11:13 Evidence Into Action 12:44 Biggest Challenges Today 13:59 How Families Are Impacted 18:38 Why Families Are Overlooked 19:29 Support Families Need 22:31 Kids and Hidden Trauma 26:42 Stress at Home 28:07 Emotional Silencing 29:23 Punitive Help-Seeking 32:46 Investigations and Isolation 33:32 Academic Working Group 35:32 Evidence Into Practice 46:41 Research Trust Barriers 51:57 Final Message 👉 Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com 🎧 Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/policings-well-being-problem-stigma-isolation-and-the-retention-crisis/ 📝 Show Notes Centre of Excellence for Equity in Uniformed Public Services (CEEUPS) – https://www.aru.ac.uk/research/our-research-institutes-and-centres/centre-of-excellence-for-equity-in-uniformed-public-services Dr Sarah-Jane Lennie (email) – Sarah-Jane.Lennie@aru.ac.uk National Police Well-Being Survey 2025 – https://oscarkilo.org.uk/national-police-wellbeing-survey-2025-deep-dive-psychological-safety Oscar Kilo Thank You Film – https://youtu.be/f-WUJeQG_E4?si=1PgwYD24n58T0M3z 👉 Follow Forensic Focus RSS | https://www.forensicfocus.com/feed YouTube | https://youtube.com/@ForensicFocus Podcast | https://forensicfocus.com/podcast LinkedIn Page | https://linkedin.com/company/forensicfocus LinkedIn Group | https://linkedin.com/groups/693917 X (Twitter) | https://x.com/ForensicFocus Facebook | https://facebook.com/forensicfocus Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/forensicfocus.bsky.social Instagram | https://instagram.com/forensicfocus TikTok | https://tiktok.com/@forensicfocus Mastodon | https://dfir.social/@forensicfocus

March 19, 20261 hr 5 min

Rob Fried On New Challenges In Digital Forensics

Rob Fried, digital forensics consultant, author, and assistant professor at Hofstra University, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to talk about the evolving challenges of forensic practice, AI in investigations, and his latest book. Rob discusses his annual publication cadence — now in its fourth edition — and how each year's content is shaped by real cases, collaborations, and emerging topics in the DFIR community. This year's edition tackles AI policy, data culling strategy, and the documentation practices that keep forensic work defensible in court. The conversation also covers the growing complexity of remote collections and the soft skills required to manage them effectively, the tension between targeted and full file system approaches, and what happens when those decisions come under scrutiny in litigation. Rob shares his experience building a forensics practice from the ground up within an established e-discovery firm, his work teaching the next generation of examiners at Hofstra, and his upcoming symposium — now in its fifth year — which this year will focus on open source intelligence and corporate investigations. #mobileforensics #digitalforensics #dfir ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Introducing Rob Fried 03:48 Why Rob Keeps Writing 07:33 AI Policies and Teaching 09:39 AI Tools and NotebookLM 11:42 AI Spam Call Story 14:33 Forensic Lab and Data Strategy 22:30 Targeted Collection Risks 26:10 Remote Collections and Soft Skills 33:41 Building a Forensics Practice 35:14 Academia and Closing Skill Gaps 39:17 Forensics Network 41:26 Learning and Collaboration 45:42 Planning the Annual Symposium 50:36 Tech Roots and Career Values 54:49 Swag, Challenge Coins and Future Plans 👉 Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com 🎥 Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/rob-fried-on-new-challenges-in-digital-forensics/ 📝 Show Notes Forensics By Fried – https://forensicsbyfried.com Rob Fried's Books – https://forensicsbyfried.com/books AI Spoof Call (Instagram) – https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVOXY5MiGNT/?igsh=N3J0cDJwaXk1bW5o 👉 Follow Forensic Focus RSS | https://www.forensicfocus.com/feed YouTube | https://youtube.com/@ForensicFocus Podcast | https://forensicfocus.com/podcast LinkedIn Page | https://linkedin.com/company/forensicfocus LinkedIn Group | https://linkedin.com/groups/693917 X (Twitter) | https://x.com/ForensicFocus Facebook | https://facebook.com/forensicfocus Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/forensicfocus.bsky.social Instagram | https://instagram.com/forensicfocus TikTok | https://tiktok.com/@forensicfocus Mastodon | https://dfir.social/@forensicfocus

January 22, 202643 min

Preparing Investigators For Trauma Exposure In Digital Forensics

📝 Complete the Forensic Focus International Well-Being Study: https://www.forensicfocus.com/survey Bunmi Bloom, co-founder of Sena Forensics, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to discuss the emotional reality of working in digital forensics and the psychological toll of long-term exposure to traumatic material. Drawing on her background with the Metropolitan Police and the Financial Conduct Authority, Bunmi reflects on how DFIR practitioners navigate disturbing images, case reports, and the pressure to "stay strong and get on with it." The conversation explores coping mechanisms inside the lab, the vital role of social support, and how desensitisation can develop over time. Bunmi shares why many investigators feel unable to speak openly, how team culture shapes resilience, and what better preparation for new DFIs could look like. She also considers whether psychological screening, mentoring, and leadership-driven change could help create safer, more supportive forensic workplaces. #digitalforensics #DFIR #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #Policing #CSAM 00:00 Introducing Bunmi Bloom 00:39 Sena Forensics: Mission and Services 03:44 Professional Background 05:35 The Impactful LinkedIn Post 07:50 Emotional Challenges in Digital Forensics 10:55 Coping Mechanisms and Social Support 15:20 Desensitization and Emotional Detachment 18:39 Preparation and Support for New DFIs 22:56 The Importance of Recognizing Stressors 25:16 The Role of Social Support 28:27 Cultural Shifts in Mental Health Awareness 31:53 Psychological Screening in Recruitment 38:53 Systemic Change and Leadership 41:20 Final Thoughts and Recommendations 👉 Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com 🎧 Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/preparing-investigators-for-trauma-exposure-in-digital-forensics/ 📝 Show Notes Sena Forensics on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sena-forensics-bunmi-bloom-76a592374/ Forensic Focus International Well-Being Study - https://www.forensicfocus.com/survey 👉 Follow Forensic Focus RSS | https://www.forensicfocus.com/feed YouTube | https://youtube.com/@ForensicFocus Podcast | https://forensicfocus.com/podcast LinkedIn Page | https://linkedin.com/company/forensicfocus LinkedIn Group | https://linkedin.com/groups/693917 X (Twitter) | https://x.com/ForensicFocus Facebook | https://facebook.com/forensicfocus Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/forensicfocus.bsky.social Instagram | https://instagram.com/forensicfocus TikTok | https://tiktok.com/@forensicfocus Mastodon | https://dfir.social/@forensicfocus

January 15, 20261 hr 1 min

Covert Cyber Investigator Well-Being With Carol Brooks

📝 Take The Surveys An Exploratory Study of Covert Cyber Investigators and the Psychological Factors Impacting on Personal Resilience and Investigative Decision-Making https://hud.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3gwyXAR281cY12C Forensic Focus International Well-Being Study https://www.forensicfocus.com/survey Carol Brooks, a cyber and organisational psychologist and leadership consultant, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to discuss her PhD research into covert cyber investigators and the psychological factors that shape their resilience and investigative decision-making. She explains what it really means to work "covertly" online and why inconsistent job titles across law enforcement, cybersecurity and the private sector make it difficult even to define the workforce she is studying. The conversation explores the significant challenges involved in recruiting participants — from suspicion and cultural barriers to the difficulties of engaging freelancers and small teams — and highlights why anonymity and ethical oversight are critical to building trust. It also examines the importance of bridging the gap between academia and industry if research is to have real-world impact, before concluding with a call for covert cyber investigators worldwide to take part in the study and help give this hidden workforce a much-needed voice. #DigitalForensics #DFIR #CyberPsychology #InvestigatorWellbeing #CovertInvestigations #mentalhealth 00:00 Introducing Carol Brooks 02:05 Carol's PhD Journey and Research Focus 06:49 Understanding Covert Cyber Investigators 13:11 Challenges in Recruiting Participants 27:18 Psychological Factors in Cyber Investigations 29:54 Setting PhD Goals and Challenges 31:02 Connecting with Covert Investigators 32:25 Overcoming Suspicion and Misconceptions 33:26 Strategies for Accessing Networks 36:37 Supporting Investigator Wellbeing 46:55 Bridging Academia and Industry 52:50 Balancing PhD and Personal Life 58:36 Call to Action for Covert Investigators 👉 Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com 🎧 Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/covert-cyber-investigator-well-being-with-carol-brooks/ 📝 Show Notes An Exploratory Study of Covert Cyber Investigators and the Psychological Factors Impacting on Personal Resilience and Investigative Decision-Making - https://hud.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3gwyXAR281cY12C British Psychological Society Cyber Psychology Section – https://www.bps.org.uk Forensic Focus International Well-Being Study - https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/northumbria/forensic-focus-wellbeing-survey 👉 Follow Forensic Focus RSS | https://www.forensicfocus.com/feed YouTube | https://youtube.com/@ForensicFocus Podcast | https://forensicfocus.com/podcast LinkedIn Page | https://linkedin.com/company/forensicfocus LinkedIn Group | https://linkedin.com/groups/693917 X (Twitter) | https://x.com/ForensicFocus Facebook | https://facebook.com/forensicfocus Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/forensicfocus.bsky.social Instagram | https://instagram.com/forensicfocus TikTok | https://tiktok.com/@forensicfocus Mastodon | https://dfir.social/@forensicfocus

January 8, 202652 min

Forensic Focus International Well-Being Study - Have Your Say

Phil Anderson from Northumbria University joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to discuss the launch of the Forensic Focus International Well-Being Study — a global research project examining the psychological and physical impact of digital forensic work across both law enforcement and the private sector. Drawing on his 24-year academic career and long-standing collaboration with Northumbria Police, Phil explains how digital forensics units have evolved and why DFIs are facing unprecedented levels of stress, burnout, and workload pressure. Together with host Paul, he outlines the four core research themes behind the study — early-life trauma and resilience, the mind-body impact of occupational stress, organisational protective factors, and the role of neurodiversity — and issues a clear call to action for DFIs worldwide to take part and help drive meaningful change. #DigitalForensics #DFIR #ForensicWellbeing #DFIs #MentalHealth #Neurodiversity #Trauma #PoliceForensics 00:00 Phil Anderson's Journey into Digital Forensics 01:34 Collaboration with Northumbria Police 02:33 The Evolution of Digital Forensics Units 03:34 Planning the Forensic Focus Well-Being Study 11:40 Exploring the Impact of Early Life Trauma on DFIs 19:51 Coping Strategies and Physical Health in DFIs 24:37 Challenges and Stressors in Digital Forensics 27:51 Challenges in Digital Forensics 28:42 Recruitment and Retention Issues 30:18 Acknowledging the Crisis 33:34 Protective Factors Against Trauma 44:08 Neurodiversity in Digital Forensics 47:46 Call to Action: Participate in the Survey 👉 Visit Forensic Focus at https://www.forensicfocus.com 🎧 Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/forensic-focus-international-well-being-study-have-your-say/ 📝 Show Notes Forensic Focus International Well-Being Study - https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/northumbria/forensic-focus-wellbeing-survey Forensic Focus and Northumbria University Launch International Well-Being Study for Digital Forensic Investigators - https://www.forensicfocus.com/news/forensic-focus-and-northumbria-university-launch-international-well-being-study-for-digital-forensic-investigators/ 👉 Follow Forensic Focus RSS | https://www.forensicfocus.com/feed YouTube | https://youtube.com/@ForensicFocus Podcast | https://forensicfocus.com/podcast LinkedIn Page | https://linkedin.com/company/forensicfocus LinkedIn Group | https://linkedin.com/groups/693917 X (Twitter) | https://x.com/ForensicFocus Facebook | https://facebook.com/forensicfocus Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/forensicfocus.bsky.social Instagram | https://instagram.com/forensicfocus TikTok | https://tiktok.com/@forensicfocus Mastodon | https://dfir.social/@forensicfocus