IT Forensics · Car

Seizure of a vehicle as part of legal proceedings

During legal proceedings, every vehicle security measure is subject to particular scrutiny: both sides must be able to verify how the vehicle was secured and that nothing was altered in the process. This is more difficult with vehicles than with computers, because systems write new data themselves when they are switched on.

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This point is particularly important when it comes to vehicles, as manufacturers, model types, software versions and the storage and transmission formats used can vary considerably. A conventional petrol or diesel car, a modern electric vehicle and a commercial vehicle fitted with a tachograph cannot be treated according to the same technical approach. The storage location, data format, encryption and connectivity determine which data is accessible and which backup method causes the least disruption.

In such cases, we coordinate our approach closely with the commissioning court, solicitor or expert in order to meet the requirements of the relevant proceedings as effectively as possible.

Technical background

Simply switching on the ignition can trigger events; over-the-air Updates can update firmware; removing a control unit alters the vehicle’s status. For this reason, procedures, timings and unavoidable changes are agreed in advance and documented.

Relevant evidence and data sources

  • Infotainment/telematics memory
  • Photographic record of the vehicle’s condition, mileage and connections
  • Event Data Recorder via suitable interfaces

Why LanCologne?

LanCologne does not examine digital traces relating to vehicles according to a blanket standard procedure, but rather on the basis of the specific vehicle type, the available data sources and the evidence at issue. Our staff have decades of experience in information technology and many years of practical experience in IT forensics.

Here’s how we do it

  • Coordination of the procedure with the court, the parties and any experts involved.
  • Documented backup with hash values and a log of changes.
  • Handover of the backup and documentation to ensure verifiability.

Borders

  • Unavoidable changes during data retrieval can only be documented; they cannot be prevented.
  • Not every vehicle or control unit can be read using the tools available.

Possible results

  • Backup procedures documented in a manner that can be verified for legal proceedings
  • Record of all work steps and changes

Typical areas of application

•Judicial and non-judicial expert reports
•Preservation of evidence from vehicles, storage media and connected mobile devices
•Study of different vehicle types and manufacturer platforms
•Investigating accidents, theft and allegations of tampering
•Analysis of driving, media, app and system artefacts
•Reconstruction of travel routes, usage times and access times
•Cross-checking of automated analysis results
•Analysis of deleted, historical or only indirectly visible traces
•Documentation for courts, solicitors, insurance companies, public authorities and businesses

Why is this area of investigation relevant to forensics?

In the context of ongoing legal proceedings, particularly stringent requirements regarding documentation and traceability apply to forensic vehicle examination, as the findings may be directly admissible as evidence in court.

The forensic value lies not solely in the volume of data found, but in its origin and reliability. A file name, a timestamp or a log entry can be misleading without context. That is why we document how an artefact may have come into being, what alternative explanations exist and what further evidence supports the findings.

In such cases, we coordinate our approach closely with the commissioning court, solicitor or expert in order to meet the requirements of the relevant proceedings as effectively as possible.

Particularly in the case of vehicles, attempts to carry out a comprehensive technical analysis may also reach their limits if manufacturers use proprietary, unpublished data formats. A lack of documentation, encrypted memory areas and manufacturer-specific cloud connections highlight why it is so important to carry out a professional backup and to communicate existing limitations transparently before the actual analysis begins. Errors made at this stage cannot always be rectified later on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you use specialist vehicle forensics hardware such as Berla iVe or Bosch CDR?+
No, we deliberately do not use dedicated vehicle data extraction hardware; instead, we analyse accessible storage media, connected mobile devices and file formats using our established forensic tools. Where proprietary, undocumented ECU formats prevent a complete analysis, we communicate this transparently.
Which tools do you actually use?+
For our analysis, we primarily use Belkasoft X and X-Ways Forensics, which offer extensive support for storage media, mobile devices and common file and database formats.
Can you carry out a full assessment of every vehicle model?+
No. The scope of the analysis depends on the manufacturer in question, the control unit and infotainment formats used, and the relevant documentation. Any existing technical limitations are clearly stated in the report.
Why don’t you analyse the original control unit directly?+
Because analysis software and data extraction processes can alter data. The actual analysis is therefore always carried out on a verified forensic copy or on the basis of a duly documented data extraction process.
Is it always possible to carry out a full analysis of the control unit’s data memory?+
No. Encryption, proprietary formats or a lack of access to certain control units may impose technical limitations. Such limitations are openly documented.
Do you also analyse data from smartphones paired with the vehicle?+
Yes, provided they are available and the necessary authorisation has been granted, as paired mobile devices often contain additional usage data that is not stored in the vehicle itself.
How do you deal with different manufacturer formats?+
We assess on a case-by-case basis which data formats are available and which of our tools can be used to analyse them. Unsupported, proprietary formats are documented as such.
How do you explain the results to non-technical people?+
We do not merely describe raw technical data; we also explain what an artefact signifies, how it may have arisen, and what conclusions can actually be drawn from it.
Are the parties allowed to be present during the seizure?+
That is a matter for the court to decide. Being present may help to secure acceptance at a later stage.
Does the vehicle need to be taken off the road?+
Until it has been backed up, it should, if possible, not be moved or connected to the internet.
Who receives the backed-up data?+
That is determined by the client or the court.

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LanCologne – Vehicle IT Forensics, Cologne

Do you require a professional investigation into „vehicle forensics in the context of legal proceedings"? LanCologne supports you in the secure collection of evidence, multi-stage analysis and transparent documentation of digital traces relating to vehicles. The key here is not to generate as many automatic matches as possible, but to secure technically sound and verifiable evidence.

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