Digital forensics, the topic we usually talk about, is also known as cyber forensics. It is one of the branches of forensic science involving the procedures to identify, preserve, analyze, and present digital evidence in legal proceedings. During digital forensics, investigators and professionals will realize the data extraction and examination from digital devices with the help of certain specialized tools and techniques. Each extracted piece of data, such as deleted files, emails, chat logs, internet browsing history, and metadata, will eventually play a significant role and contribute to the case solution.
In a world driven by technological advancements, the field of cyber forensics is constantly evolving as well. With the increasing prevalence of cyber threats, digital forensic investigators must stay updated with the latest trends to investigate incidents and protect organizations effectively. This article will explore the top 5 trends in digital forensics in 2023.
Increasing Engagement in AI and Machine Learning
It is a visible great stride that AI gradually prevails in this era, and fortunately, we are living in it. By utilizing AI and machine learning, it will first transform the traditional way we collect and analyze evidence data. The evidence data can be collected automatically, and the volumes would be larger, ensuring as much as possible that the information required for the case will be collected completely.
In addition, it enables real-time data collection and makes sure the information is updated. The application of AI and machine learning in digital forensics would also have a positive effect on evidence preservation. That’s because, when applied to network traffic analysis, AI and machine learning play a crucial role in identifying potential threats and patterns of malicious activity, contributing to proactive cyberattack prevention.
In contemporary investigations, digital images and videos hold immense value in digital forensics. Deep learning algorithms are particularly valuable in examining these visuals, as they can identify and extract relevant information, objects, and individuals that may not be discernible to the human eye. Furthermore, AI and machine learning techniques are being effectively employed to track down criminals through the analysis of multiple databases and the application of critical thinking algorithms that identify unique patterns of behavior associated with specific individuals.
As the use of AI and machine learning continues to grow, digital forensics capabilities will be further strengthened, enhancing the speed, accuracy, and effectiveness of investigations in the years to come.
Focus More on Mobile Device Forensics
With the increasing prevalence of Android-based smartphones, which will be used by approximately 3.3 billion individuals across 190 countries in the future, there is a greater emphasis on mobile device forensics. The widespread use of mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets, presents unique challenges in digital forensics investigations. The sheer volume of data stored on these devices makes it difficult to identify and collect relevant information, and additional complexities arise from encryption and security measures that safeguard the data.
To address these challenges, an array of mobile device forensics tools and techniques must be developed. These include logical, physical, and file system extraction methods that enable the collection and analysis of data. Additionally, machine learning algorithms play a crucial role in identifying patterns that are vital to investigations.
Moebius Technology (Singapore PTE) LTD S.T.O.R.M, MTM for short, is also exploring various solutions for mobile device data extraction and analysis. As mobile devices continue to evolve, digital forensics must adapt and keep pace with these changes, ensuring that investigations can effectively navigate the complexities of mobile device data.
Improvement in Cloud-Based Digital Forensics
With the spreading of cloud-based commerce, the products originating from cloud-based commerce inevitably permeate every corner of life, such as accounting and taxation. Once crimes happen, digital forensics should be updated and improved, as the former methods and technologies would make it rather difficult to quickly solve such cases, to a certain extent. The development of cloud-based businesses helps improve access and analysis capabilities, pushing cyber forensics to make breakthroughs.
Solutions for cloud-based digital data forensics typically distribute data across multiple servers and employ complex encryption and security measures to safeguard information. While this presents challenges for accessing and analyzing data, innovative cloud-based digital evidence forensics tools, such as forensic analysis and machine learning algorithms, have been updated to overcome the difficulties and obstacles.
Some cloud-based systems already incorporate built-in forensic capabilities. However, digital forensics must continuously update to adapt to the evolving nature of cloud-based systems. It is important to note that the full potential of cloud-based digital data forensics may take some time to fully materialize, given the current state of technology. Nonetheless, as advancements continue to be made, cloud-based digital forensics will undoubtedly play a crucial role in investigations and evidence analysis in the future.
Expanding to the Internet of Things (IoT)
One of the key trends in digital forensics for 2023 is its expansion to the Internet of Things (IoT). Facial recognition and fingerprint scanning are the two kinds of biometric authentication we are familiar with. They have gained significant popularity in daily life. Utilizing unique physical characteristics, biometric authentication is a much safer and faster access method to verify an individual’s identity, compared to traditional passwords.
However, considering privacy and personal security, the concerns about biometric data use gradually raise. Unlike traditional digit passwords, compromised biometric data cannot be easily changed. Once it is at risk of identity theft, it would bring greater loss. Furthermore, there are security threads about the reliability, accuracy, and potential unreasonable use of biometric systems and personal data.
To minimize the threads, regulations, and rules, for instance, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), has been established to ensure the appropriate control of biometric data. It is a must for biometric authentication systems to comply with the established standards and be responsible for security and users’ privacy.
Biometric authentication provides significant advantages in safety and convenience, but it is crucial to have appropriate regulations and protections to protect user privacy and avoid potentially misusing biometric data. It is the major reason why digital forensics is possible and trendy to expand to IoT to investigate and solve fraud crimes happen related to biometric authentication.
Growing Association between Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity
In the realm of digital evidence forensics for 2023, a noteworthy trend is the growing interdependence between digital forensics and cybersecurity. Organizations are increasingly recognizing the need to establish a cohesive approach to protecting themselves from cyber threats.
While cybersecurity measures focus on preventing and detecting attacks, digital evidence forensics plays a crucial role in investigating incidents post-occurrence to mitigate future risks.
Collaboration and cooperation between the two parties have become imperative for companies aiming to enhance their overall security posture. This collaboration involves the utilization of threat intelligence, the implementation of robust incident responses, and joint efforts in specific investigative cases. By enabling the information exchange, these companies can more effectively discover and react to cyber threats, fortifying their defenses comprehensively.
Bottom Line
In the continuous course of exploring and developing digital evidence forensics, on one hand, the investigator would grasp the latest methods of reconstructing digital activities and uncovering evidence of cybercrime and fraud. On the other hand, it always persists in the ultimate goal of digital forensics, preserving the integrity of digital evidence and ensuring the evidence is admissible in court.
We are here to discuss the 5 major trends of digital forensics in 2023. It is also because we, MTM, are committed to better serving digital forensics. We will help realize fairness and justice by constantly exploring and discovering the infinite possibilities of digital forensics.
