According to research conducted by CheckPoint, the rate of cyber-attacks increased by 30% worldwide in only the second quarter of 2024. This alarming increase in cybercrime has made ‘digital forensics’ a viral and equally necessary topic of discussion.
Digital Forensics in Cybersecurity is a field of science mainly related to identifying, analyzing, preserving, and combating virtual threats. This branch of forensics science aims to gather and save relevant information (generally known as electronic evidence) from targeted devices, network systems, or the internet, to present in the court of law.
Relevance of Digital Forensics
Digital Forensics is an asset in today’s world where cybercrime has evolved and become common. Cybercrime is everywhere, and in every industry; so is interactive forensics. But what exactly does digital forensics do? Let’s find out:
Determine Motive
It identifies the root cause behind the attack; the hacker/attacker’s main motive.
Determine Duration
It determines the time duration during which the attack was incurred.
Determine Activity
It determines the activity of the hacker while the system was attacked; was the material, information, data stolen or not?
Remedy
Its primary effort is to prevent the threat but in case of a powerful attack, the goal is to rectify it.
Tracking Tools
It traces the hacker’s activity backwards to locate the tools used in conducting the attack.
Tracking Hacker
It traces the hacker’s login ID to reveal his identity and location.
Evidence Protection
It safeguards the gathered mechanised evidence from getting modified, altered, destroyed, or completely deleted.
Digital Forensic Process for Investigation
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Data Collection
The first step of digital forensics process is to gather as much data as available on the device. This step is carried out in an urgency to prevent the accidental or purposeful deletion of material, which plays a crucial role in this examination.
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Incident Analysis
Once the input figures are safe with the team (in replicated form), the next step is to analyze the situation and determine whether the case relates to cybercrime or not. Forensic inspectors carry out an audit trail to identify the scope of the breach by looking at the tools and methods used.
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Identification of Procedures
With full knowledge of the tools and software used by the hacker, the investigators move towards determining the techniques and patterns. This step involves critically analyzing the various aspects of the attack or as some say ‘putting yourself in the hacker’s shoes’.
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Forensic Request
A digital forensic inquiry cannot proceed further without a forensic request. It states an outline, with the methodology to be used and the confidentiality steps taken alongside other details. This request letter also concisely mentions the case without missing any details.
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Sampling Investigation Techniques
When there’s a team of skilled inspectors assigned to the same case, the risk of conflict of ideas arises. To prevent this conflict, necessary tools are selected beforehand by combining the different techniques and the step-by-step process is finalized. This process is documented to ensure a better understanding of the procedure.
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Evidence Collection
Coming to the main step of this procedure – carrying out the documented process. Once the evidence has been collected, the rest of the documented inquiry is split into two halves; one for the business remediation and the other for the resumption. Remediation relates to correcting the faults in the system while resumption means re-launching the system.
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Post-Investigation Reporting
The digital forensic findings and proof are compiled in a report form to be presented to the stakeholders like the management, owners, organization etc. This report also provides an overview of the attack and the steps taken to overcome the threat.
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Legal & Regulatory Compliance
After completing the post-examination report, it is reviewed keeping in view the legal and regulatory considerations. This report is often presented in the courtroom during trial for cybercrime which is why it should be up to the standard.
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Vulnerability Assessments
The last step is vulnerability assessment. Any loopholes or weaknesses in the system are reported to the targeted person with a response plan. This response plan usually suggests ways to secure the system so that it endures any potential attack in the near future.
Fundamental Skills for Digital Forensics
Technical Aptitude
A person working in the field of digital forensics will likely have to work with different devices and software. Therefore, knowledge of how to operate technical devices and software is a non-negotiable skill.
Analytical Aptitude
Analytical aptitude refers to the ability to interpret data and carry out an inquiry with its findings. Anyone working in this type of science will have to interpret the electronic evidence and critically analyze each aspect of the case to solve the crime.
Communication Skills
Presenting technological proof in front of the organization, persons targeted, and the courtroom is an inevitable reality of virtual forensics. Therefore, concise and clear communication skills are mandatory for this field.
Attention to Detail
A cyber forensic investigation cannot be performed without keen attention to detail. Sorting through the heaps of input figures only to find a minute cue takes patience and focus. Plus, looking at the bigger picture from various angles is a skill for forensic officers to hold on to.
Familiarity with Criminology & Law
Cybercrime is a sub-discipline of criminology and anything related to criminology is automatically related to law. Hence, familiarity with these two areas of study is a must for someone who wants to excel as a virtual forensic inspector.
Will to Learn and Practice
As digital forensics is a field of cyber security, it is bound to evolve rapidly with time. With the constant discoveries and technological developments, the will to self-educate is the most important of the skillset.
Major Digital Forensics Software
With an increased demand for computer forensics, the workload of the cyber forensic department has also hiked up. To make their work easier, and reduce a few basic steps of the inquiry procedure, many investigators resort to these ten popular interactive forensic tools mentioned below.
- Autopsy
- Forensic Toolkit – FTK
- Video Investigation Portable – VIP 2.0
- Sleuth Kit
- Cellebrite UFED
- X-Ways Forensics
- Volatility
- Magnet AXIOM
- OS Forensics
- Paladin Forensic Suite
Branches of Digital Forensics
A hike in demand leads to development which in turn leads to specialization. Below are the six main branches of digital forensics. Each of them not only performs its own function but they are also linked with one another. Let’s see what they’re all about.
Computer Forensics
Computer forensics is the application of online forensic methods and techniques on a computer, PC, or laptop to extract technological proof. This branch uses principles which are similar to the data recovery process, however, it carries out an additional audit trail to find the person responsible for the crime.
Mobile Device Forensics
Mobile Device forensics is the process of gathering material, analyzing it, and discovering electronic testament of a smartphone. This type of forensics works on tablets, iPads, PDAs and GPS devices. It is also suitable for any device with an internal memory card and communication facilities.
Network Forensics
Network forensics deals with assessing network traffic for electronic proof. It gathers information and detects the network for third-party disturbances. This branch also eliminates computer crimes as well as mobile phone virtual threats.
Email Forensics
Email forensics is the branch that deals with extracting proof from Phishing. Email phishing is a type of cyber attack in which illegitimate ‘fake mails’ are sent to trick the recipient into entering personal material information like bank details etc.
Relevant Digital Forensics Challenges
Data Encryption
One of the major challenges cybersecurity experts face from the beginning is the encryption of data. Investigators require a decryption key to read the info, without which the information cannot be accessed. The problem is that encryption algorithms can be a tough nut to crack. By encrypting the figures, most criminals mask their tracks, because even the best investigators find this process hard.
Data Destruction
The criminals might also tend to destroy the evidence, data from the physical drives. Doing so automatically eradicates the root source of information, making it nearly impossible for the investigation to proceed further. Figures can be destroyed from hard disks as well as other storage forms like CDs, tapes, USBs, and memory cards. There are multiple ways to tackle this issue, like resorting to regular backups or creating disk images of the damaged drive, but these methods don’t always guarantee results.
Data Storage
Modern electronic devices can accommodate huge amounts of information which makes it a challenge for the investigators to handle. Skimming through the findings for the actual information can be tiring, especially when you have to pay attention to every detail. Since the investigators do not know where the data could be hidden, they have to consider every folder that comes their way.
Importance of Cyber Forensics in Cyber Security
In an era where people are investing in intellectual property, the theft methods have also shifted from physical to that present on the internet. With entire lives and careers being documented on the computers and clouds, technological devices are in more need of safety than humans. The need for digital forensics in cyber security is now more than ever, with the rapid and more evolved cybercrime breakthrough.
Digital forensics can help you recover your stolen material by carrying out an intense criminal inquiry. It not only detects fraud but prevents it as well and makes sure you get to the root of the crime, criminal and motive included. The key source or asset in cybercrime situations is the data which is most vulnerable and online forensics rescues it from permanent loss.
Final Words
Summing up, digital forensics is the future of cybersecurity. It detects fraud and tracks the criminals to be held in front of the eyes of the law so you can get justice. Be it a million-dollar enterprise or an individual whose account is hacked, the online forensics investigation works the same way for both. Cyber forensics is something the world can count on to prevent the ultimate destruction of this generation – it’s the only hope.