Introduction to Digital Forensics

Abstract: Crimes committed using computers are increasing rapidly, posing a challenge to law enforcement. Investigations including cybercrime, terrorism, and civil litigation all make use of digital forensics today. Because of the ever-increasing sophistication of modern technology, forensic investigations of this sort can quickly become difficult and time-consuming. In order to successfully retrieve meaningful digital evidence during such investigations, however, a standard framework for digital forensic professionals to follow must be developed. All appropriate steps that a digital forensic investigation would take should be highlighted by the framework and methodology used to conduct digital forensics. This study provides a system for conducting digital forensic investigations with an emphasis on the forensic aspects of those probes, the tools and procedures employed by examiners, and the significance of hashing in preventing the manipulation of evidence. Digital forensics, as a whole, is still a field that is widely growing along with the continually advancing world of technology. This form of forensics is one that is also growing in importance and necessity due to crimes stemming from digital devices becoming increasingly popular as well. These steady numbers are what have and will continue to drive the field of digital forensics into meeting its full potential on a consistent basis, in both a preventative and recovering manner. However, in order to recognize this potential, it is important to first understand what digital forensics really entails