Advancements in Digital Forensics: Emerging Tools and Techniques

Abstract

As cybercrimes become increasingly intricate and prevalent, digital forensics has established itself as an essential field for investigating, analyzing, and presenting digital evidence. This research examines the application of various digital forensic tools and methodologies in identifying, recovering, and analyzing digital data pertinent to criminal inquiries. The tools included in this comparative study are FTK Imager, iCare Data Recovery Pro, Autopsy, Mobiledit Forensic Express, and EnCase. The research focuses on assessing these tools based on their features, efficiency, user experience, and capacity to facilitate different phases of digital forensic investigations—specifically identification, collection, preservation, analysis, and documentation. Case studies from real-world scenarios have been analyzed to illustrate how these tools aid forensic analysts in recovering deleted information, examining mobile and computer systems, and supporting legal proceedings through meticulously documented digital evidence. The results indicate that each tool possesses distinct features that render it appropriate for particular situations. For instance, FTK Imager and EnCase excel in generating forensic images and conducting comprehensive analyses, while Autopsy is recognized as a robust open-source option for general investigations. Additionally, iCare Data Recovery Pro and Mobiledit are effective for data recovery and mobile forensics. In summary, this study enhances the understanding of forensic preparedness and response in cybercrime investigations.