Digital Forensics in Cyber Crime Investigation
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: —Digital forensics is the systematic identification, collection, preservation, examination, and presentation of digital evidence for cybercrime investigations. This paper reviews the evolution of the discipline, the standard forensic investigation lifecycle, and specialist methods for disk, network, memory, mobile, cloud, and container environments. It also discusses legal and technical challenges, including anti-forensic activity, encryption, privacy requirements, and cross-border evidence access. Emerging approaches such as machine learning, blockchain-based audit trails, and Internet of Things (IoT) forensics may support faster analysis and stronger evidence integrity. The paper concludes with recommendations for standardized cloud evidence procedures, resilient forensic logging, and improved international cooperation.
Author: Tiwari, Khushboo
Language: English
Topic: Digital and Cyber Forensics
Subfield: Information Systems
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7223694130