Cybercrime Unmasked: Investigating Cases and Digital Evidence

Abstract

The advent of rapid digital technology has opened doors to a new domain for criminal activities, commonly termed as computer crimes. Stringent penalties have been instituted by various countries and institutions to combat these offenses executed through computers or networks. Central to investigating these crimes is digital evidence, pivotal in the realm of digital forensics. The digital forensics process comprises five critical phases: acquisition, preservation, analysis, reconstruction, and presentation. Its core aim is to locate and present digital evidence in court, aiding in determining the culpability of individuals involved in computer crimes. This discipline encompasses specialized fields such as data recovery, conversion, erasure, file identification, encryption, decryption, and IP address tracing to apprehend culprits. This paper conducts a thorough examination of the digital forensics stages using sample cases that elucidate five distinct computer crimes. It delves into evidence origins, collection methods, and preservation techniques utilized in the investigation. Once this meticulous process is completed, the digital forensics team compiles documented findings for presentation in a court of law.