Development of a Methodological Guide for Forensic Analysis in Computer Equipment with Mac OS X Operating System

Technology is advancing faster every day, and part of it is the increase in the use of ICT (Information and Communication Technologies), such as emails, videoconferences, social networks, etc., which in turn reflects a greater increase in the use of the internet in everyday life. However, the use of the internet offers apparent anonymity to carry out a large number of illicit activities, in the same way it makes tools available to users to use them in an improper, fraudulent or non-conventional way. Among the crimes committed by computer means are the data theft, bank account fraud, interference in the operation of a computer system, grooming, child pornography, both in its production and its distribution, etc. In conclusion, the increasing use of ICTs has led to an increase in available technology for computing criminal activities, which is why, if a crime occurs in Ecuador involving computer equipment with Mac OSX operating system, the judicialization of digital evidence from it, will not be processed correctly due to the lack of technical knowledge from Computer Experts about the operation of these devices and in the search for traces left by the perpetrator of the crime. In view of this problem, it is proposed to provide computer experts with a methodological guide for forensic analysis in a computer with Mac OSX operating system, taking as a reference standards, tools, guides and best practices proposed by international organizations specialized in the forensic computer area. The methodological guide is 100% adhered to the current legal regulations in Ecuador and allows the evidence coming from these computer equipment to be judicialized.