Earlier, criminal incidents were resolved by physical evidences like bloodstains on clothes, muddy footprints, fingerprints on glass. Now the crime that occur is more digital like on computers, mobile phones, cloud servers, websites, etc. However, these types of crime are not physically visible. In this world, to get the digital evidences, Digital Forensics came into use.
Digital Forensics is the scientific process of finding, collecting, protecting, analyzing and presenting digital evidence so it can be used in court. Every time a device sends a message, visits a website, deletes a file, or records a position, a tiny information trail is created. The traces that cannot be detected present in the system even if someone tries to remove or delete them. This buried information can be recovered and examined by qualified professionals. In contemporary crimes like theft, cyber fraud, terrorism and organised crime, digital evidences are more trusted than eyewitnesses.
The more use of social media, internet banking, cell phones usage, and digital payments has made Digital Forensics most important as all these facilities are easy and reliable to use. This world is more of technology as every generation is using this facility and terrorist make use of this advancement. Financial frauds through phishing links, impersonation calls, and fraudulent investment websites are on the rise. Rebuilding the precise digital timeline might be the answer to these problems.
Digital forensics helps in identifying how a fraud was committed, which device was used, from which location the activity was performed, and how the money or data was transferred. By examining system logs, emails, browser history, IP addresses and deleted files, investigators can reconstruct the entire sequence of events. This process not only helps in solving crimes but also in preventing similar incidents in the future. When organizations understand how an attack happened, they can improve their security systems and close the gaps that were previously unnoticed.
When personal computers became popular in the early 1980s, digital forensics, also known as digital forensic science, began. It was not until the early 2000s, however, that appropriate guidelines and procedures for digital forensics were completely established. There weren’t many appropriate instruments available when digital forensics initially started in the early 1980s. Live analysis is the process by which most forensic teams had to examine computers while they were still operational. This method was risky as there was high chances that data might get removed.
More sophisticated systems like EnCase and the Forensic Toolkit (FTK) were developed as the need for digital evidence increased in the late 1990s. These tools made the investigation safer and more dependable by enabling investigators to look at digital data copies rather than the original equipment. With the advancement of technology, digital forensics is now applied not only to computers but also to smartphones, tablets, cloud storage platforms, CCTV systems and even smart devices used in homes and vehicles.
One of the special benefits of digital forensics is its scientific precision. Investigators must follow the guidelines in order to maintain the chain of custody. They create accurate forensic copies of equipment in order to safeguard the original data. Recovering data is only one aspect of digital forensics; another is demonstrating the validity and legality of the evidence.
Digital forensics also plays an important role in civil disputes, corporate investigations and workplace misconduct cases where digital communication records serve as crucial proof. Banks, companies and educational institutions use forensic audits to detect internal fraud, data leakage and policy violations. In many situations, GPS data, call records and device logs help in building an accurate timeline of events.
Cybercrime is on the rise in India and many other rapidly emerging digital nations. Government has provided many facilities like digital payments and online services and by doing all this they have improved the society with latest technologies. However, all these facilities are giving more opportunities for hackers to get into the digital world and perform crime. Still, a number of issues persist, including a lack of qualified specialists, forensic analysis hold-ups, poor public awareness, and legal issues with transnational crimes.
Many digital crimes today involve servers located in different countries, encrypted communication channels and anonymous online identities, which makes investigation more complex. There is also a growing need for proper training, advanced laboratories and international cooperation to handle such challenges effectively.
Digital forensics is helpful in both preventing and investigating crimes. People’s sense of total online anonymity wanes when they are aware that their activities can be tracked down and validated. Cyber investigations and forensic audits are being used by banks, businesses, and educational institutions to find misconduct and safeguard private information. Digital forensics thus aids in both prevention and punishment.
In the future, the importance of digital forensics will continue to increase as more devices become connected through the internet and new technologies like cloud computing, artificial intelligence and smart devices expand. The amount of digital data created every day is growing rapidly, which means investigators will need more advanced tools and techniques to analyze large volumes of information. At the same time, stronger encryption and privacy laws will create new challenges. Therefore, digital forensics will remain an essential pillar in maintaining cybersecurity, protecting national security, and ensuring trust in the digital world.
The article has been written by Dr. Syed S Abbas, Director and Prof. Manya Sharma, Research Associate, IGMPI
