Rebuttal report: a data leak accusation without solid evidence
Technical review of a report accusing a former employee of taking sensitive company information.
Background
A company accused a former employee of extracting sensitive information before leaving, relying on a technical report by an external firm as its main evidence.
What I was asked
To assess whether the prosecution's report technically and conclusively proved that information had been extracted.
How it was analysed
- Review of how the evidence was obtained: acquisition, documentation and chain of custody.
- Analysis of the technical consistency of each claim in the report.
- Identification of inaccuracies, ambiguities and unsupported conclusions.
Report findings
The evidence-gathering procedures in the prosecution's report were incorrect, incomplete and undocumented, and its reasoning was weak and inconclusive. It did not prove that the former employee had extracted any information.
Key takeaway
Poorly obtained or documented digital evidence loses its value. Reviewing the methodology of the opposing report matters as much as analysing its conclusions.
Related service: Forensic analysis of phones, computers and storage media
Anonymised case. Personal data, the parties and procedural references have been omitted or altered to preserve confidentiality.