How Digital Forensics Firms Actually Work
What they really do, what tools they use, and how ForensAI compares
Most people have no idea what actually happens when they hire a digital forensics investigator or a private cyber investigator. The industry sounds mysterious, expensive, even intimidating — and that's not by accident.
Here's the truth, in plain language.
🔍 What Forensic Firms Actually Do
When a person hires a digital forensics expert — whether for a divorce, a stalking case, a harassment incident, a workplace dispute, or a hacking concern — the firm typically performs four core tasks:
A. They collect your data
You send them one or more of the following:
- Google Takeout data
- iCloud/iOS backups
- Social media archives (Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, etc.)
- Device logs
- Computer images
- Screenshots, messages, emails
This already feels invasive: you're handing over your entire digital life to a stranger.
B. They import that data into an enterprise forensic tool
Most major firms don't manually review raw logs.
They import your files into tools such as:
These tools auto-detect:
- logins
- location changes
- device changes
- security events
- app activity
- downloads
- IP addresses
- communication patterns
In other words: it's mostly automated.
C. They interpret anomalies
A forensic examiner reviews the results and tries to tell a story:
- Was this login normal?
- Does this device belong to the user?
- Is this behavior consistent with the person's routine?
- Is this IP close to their home?
- Is this timeline suspicious?
But the analysis is basically:
large tool → automated flags → human interpretation.
D. They prepare a report
This is the expensive part — the deliverable.
Reports usually include:
- Summary of activity
- Timeline of events
- Suspicious logins
- Geolocation notes
- Device overview
- Expert commentary
- Screenshots from AXIOM or Cellebrite
This report is what lawyers and courts use.
💰 What They Charge (and Why)
Here's where most people get blindsided.
Digital forensics is expensive because:
- Tools cost $6,000–$40,000+ per year
- Experts bill $200–$450/hour
- Firms add margin on top
- Reports take 5–12 hours
- Expedited timelines add more fees
Typical pricing:
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Initial consultation | $250–$500 |
| Basic data ingest & review | $1,200–$2,500 |
| Full forensic review | $3,000–$6,000 |
| Legal-ready report | $5,000–$10,000 |
| Testimony (if needed) | $350–$600/hr |
This is why ordinary people — especially domestic violence victims, single parents, students, or people in crisis — simply can't afford it.
🧪 What Private Investigators Actually Do
Private investigators who "offer digital forensics" are usually doing something different:
A. They don't have enterprise forensic tools
Most PIs:
- don't own AXIOM/UFED
- don't know how to use deep forensic systems
- rely on third-party subcontractors
- or use consumer-grade file analysis tools + manual review
Common PI workflows:
- Import your data into smaller forensic utilities
- Look for obvious issues (new device, foreign IP, unusual locations)
- Screenshot findings
- Assemble a narrative
- Deliver PDF "report"
B. They often act as middlemen
A PI might charge $1,500–$5,000, but they sometimes subcontract:
- data ingestion
- analysis
- report writing
to an actual forensic examiner behind the scenes.
C. PI analysis is slower
Many take:
- 2–7 days to complete a review
- 7–14 days for a formal report
Not because it's truly complex — but because it's labor.
⚖️ So Why Doesn't a Consumer Tool Exist Already?
Until ForensAI, every solution had one massive problem:
Digital forensic tools were built for enterprises, not people.
- They require training
- They require licenses
- They require hardware dongles
- They require lab environments
- They require ingestion servers
- They require certifications
They were never meant to run on a mobile phone.
They were never meant to be used by the person in crisis.
They were never meant to give clarity in minutes.
The consumer market was ignored.
🔥 So What Does ForensAI Actually Replace?
ForensAI replaces 80–90% of the technical workflow of traditional forensic review — instantly, privately, and on your device.
Here's what that means in practice:
What ForensAI Does
ForensAI performs the same core analysis that forensic firms do:
- Log parsing
- Device identification
- IP geolocation
- Timeline clustering
- Suspicious event detection
- Cross-platform correlation
- Distance-to-user anomaly detection
All on your phone, without sending your files anywhere.
What ForensAI Does NOT Replace
- Certified forensic testimony
- Chain-of-custody collection
- Court-admissible device imaging
But ForensAI does give you:
- A clear view of what's happening
- Evidence you can show a lawyer
- Enough information to decide your next move
- A private way to understand your own data
- A fast early signal before you spend $5k+ on experts
It is the triage layer the industry desperately needed.
🚀 How ForensAI Compares Directly
| Step | Traditional Firm | ForensAI |
|---|---|---|
| Data Upload | You send your whole digital life to a stranger | Stays 100% on your device |
| Tools Used | AXIOM, UFED, Oxygen, etc. | Custom mobile forensic engine |
| Cost | $3,000–$10,000+ | $179 one-time |
| Timeline | 3–14 days | Minutes |
| Report | Human-generated | AI-assisted (optional) |
| Privacy | Third-party access | Zero access (on-device) |
| Use Case | Legal, enterprise, corporate | Individual clarity + triage |
⭐ The Bottom Line
Traditional forensic firms are powerful and useful — but they are expensive, slow, and designed for litigation, not personal clarity.
Most people don't need courtroom imaging.
They need to know whether something is wrong so they can decide what to do next.
ForensAI gives individuals what forensic tools have given firms for decades — but privately, instantly, and affordably.
It doesn't replace expert testimony.
It replaces fear, confusion, and guesswork.
It gives people back the truth in their own data, and the power to take their next step with confidence.
AI for life + work
© ForensAI. ForensAI is an educational, read-only analysis tool. It does not provide legal advice, expert opinions, or certified evidence. If you intend to use information in a legal matter, consult an attorney or licensed investigator.