Digital Forensics, or Computer Forensics, is the applied scientific methodology and procedures in identifying, collecting, protecting, examining, presenting, and legally preserving digital evidence in any other discipline. The initial stage in this procedure is to distinguish, capture, and retrieve digital proof from various sources, comprising computer systems, mobile devices, computer networks, and digital storage media.
The main focus of the discipline is to develop evidence from digital systems and software to determine probable complex models or insights about the existence or occurrence of illegal cyber actions that have harmed the safety and security of a digital environment. The article will provide insights into the different techniques applied in cyber forensics.
What is Cyber Forensics?
Cyber or digital forensics, on the other hand, is the discipline used to collect, examine, and present computer data as evidence in a court of law, where the objective is to maintain a digital and safe environment. In addition, cyber forensics helps conduct the right legal processing and trends and links it with digital evidence related to cyber threats and crime events.
Techniques of Computer Forensics
In computer forensics, the following techniques are there that are as follows:
Techniques of Cyber Forensics
- Reverse Steganography: It is a technique used by cybercriminals to hide the data in digital files, communications, or data streams. In reverse steganography, the data hashing inside a particular file is examined. Hidden information in a digital file or image can not appear suspicious when examined. On the other hand, the underlying hash or string of data that represents the image is altered by concealed information. To counter this, computer forensics investigators can check and compare the hash values of the original file and the edited file, even if the two files may appear to be similar at first glance the hash values will differ. There are various types of steganography, including text steganography, image steganography, video steganography, audio steganography, and network steganography.
- Stochastic Forensics: Stochastic forensics is a method or technique in the field of computer forensics that helps analyze and reconstruct digital activity that does not produce digital artifacts. A digital artifact can be defined as an unintentional modification of data brought about by doing digital operations. For instance, text files can be said as digital artifacts that may contain clues or hints related to a digital cybercrime like data theft that modifies file properties. Using stochastic forensics as a technique helps to investigate data breaches that are caused due to insider threats, that might not leave digital evidence behind digital artifacts. Stochastic forensics can aid with this investigation.
- Live Analysis: Live analysis is a method that is used to examine computers or devices that are operational, live analysis takes place within the operating system using various forensics and system admin tools to get the information from that device or computer utilizing system tools to locate, examine, and retrieve volatile data, usually kept in RAM or cache, is part of the process of live analysis. The data that is being collected is from the installed software packages, hardware information, etc. Forensics labs as well as experts are usually required to retain the examined computer throughout live analysis to properly preserve the chain of custody of evidence to be admissible at the court.
- Cross-drive Analysis (CDA): Cross-drive analysis, also termed anomaly detection, is a technique that helps investigators find out the similarities to provide the investigation context using cross-drive analysis. These serve as a baseline for identifying suspicious occurrences using these commonalities. It usually incorporates correlating and cross-referencing data across multiple computer drives that help to locate, analyze, and retain any information similar to the investigation procedure like email addresses, SSNs, message IDs, etc.
- Deleted File Recovery: This technique also termed file carving or data carving, is a technique used in computer forensics to help recover deleted files. It starts with the process of scanning memory and a computer system for fragments of information that were erased partially in one place but left behind evidence in another area of the examined device. The deleted information can be recovered using forensic tools such as Wise Data Recovery, CrashPlan, etc.
Conclusion
In conclusion, cyber forensics is a vital field in the digital area, utilizing various techniques as discussed in this article highlights the diverse ways of collecting information, analyzing, and presenting electronic data as evidence in legal proceedings by forensic experts. Moreover, advancements in cyber forensics enhance investigator’s capabilities in addressing cyber threats and ensuring evidence integrity so that it can be admissible at the court in legal proceedings, while technology continues to evolve and adapt to new techniques.
Frequently Asked Questions on Cyber Forensics – FAQs
What is live analysis, and how does it aid in cyber forensic investigations?
The operating system does live analysis while the computer or device is in use. Typically, volatile data is kept in RAM or cache, and it is located, analyzed, and extracted using system tools to effectively preserve the chain of custody of evidence. Live analysis helps investigators gather and examine the information that is collected from the installed software programs and hardware details, which is essential for forensic analysis and legal proceedings.
How does reverse steganography contribute to cyber forensic investigations?
It is a technique where cybercriminals utilize steganography as a strategy to hide data from digital files, messages, and data streams. In reverse steganography, the data hashing inside a particular file is examined. Hidden information in a digital file or image can not appear suspicious when examined. This technique is crucial for cyber forensic investigators to detect concealed data within files, or data streams, providing information related to potential cyber threats or criminal activities.
How does Cross-drive analysis (CDA) help the investigation process in cyber forensics?
Cross-drive analysis helps identify commonalities and suspicious occurrences by correlating and cross-referencing data from multiple computer drives, enabling the identification and examination of relevant data that is pertinent to cyber forensic investigations.