How the Field of Digital Forensics in Responding to Emerging Threats

Digital Forensics in the Criminal Justice System

A wide array of challenges has emerged for digital forensic practitioners in recent years, including most especially the significant ethical dilemmas that are inherent to the field. In addition, innovative technologies such as the Internet of Things and drones as well as artificial intelligence and machine learning have also created numerous challenges and opportunities for advancement of the field by digital forensics. To identify potential solutions, the purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic review of the literature concerning these issues, followed by a summary of the findings in the conclusion.

Describe two ethical dilemmas that may be encountered by a digital forensic practitioner and the steps they should take to ensure their integrity isn’t called into question

Protect unrelated sensitive information: During an era of high-profile whistleblowing, it is clear that digital forensic practitioners are in a good position to exploit personal or otherwise confidential information such as financial data or personal conversations during the course of their analyses which is outside the scope of the investigation (Nieto et al., 2018). Consequently, in order to protect their integrity, it is essential for practitioners to ensure that all irrelevant sensitive information is held in strict confidentiality and any questions concerning appropriate courses of action should be directed to supervisors when practitioners are in doubt as to its relevance to the case (Neito et al., 2018).

Practitioner objectivity and bias: Digital forensic practitioners have a fundamental responsibility to provide accurate and unbiased reports, but they may face ethical dilemmas due to conflicting evidence or incomplete information (Renaud et al., 2021). In this regard, Jaju (2023) emphasizes that, “While digital forensics can be a valuable tool for law enforcement and organizations, it also raises important ethical questions related to invasion of privacy, bias and discrimination, and accuracy and reliability” (p. 3). It is reasonable to suggest that the temptation to cherry-pick data or skew the results of forensics analyses in one direction or another is potentially strong, particularly in busy departments where criminal justice authorities are eager to pursue a case. Therefore, in order to avoid even the appearance of such bias, practitioners must ensure that they carefully and thoroughly document all of the findings that emerge during the investigative process in a transparent fashion, and to communicate any potential biases in their findings to relevant authorities (Renaud et al., 2021).

Research and describe three Internet of Things (IoT) devices. What are their functions and what problems are they designed to solve for the user?

Three IoT devices, their functions and the problems they are designed to solve for the user include 1) smart watches which leverage technology to provide users with virtually infinite functions that collect physical fitness data and other personalized health-related data (Xu et al., 2021); 2) smart home security systems which monitor and collect security data; (Nehme & George, 2022); and 3) smart refrigerators which provide users with timely inventory management functions and automated temperature control (Li & Abdul-Rashid, 2022).

What data valuable to an investigation is created by each device?

Smart watches can provide valuable data for investigations, including health and fitness data such as activity levels and heart rate, location data using GPS features and communication logs (Mo et al., 2017). Likewise, smart home security systems generate surveillance footage, access logs, and alarm triggers that can assist in establishing events, identifying perpetrators, or monitoring unauthorized access (Jacobsson et al., 2019). In addition, although smart refrigerators may not typically generate direct investigative data, usage logs and communication data, if available, could provide valuable insights into activities or interactions relevant to an investigation.

Other than the device itself, where might data from the IoT device be stored and how can it be acquired?

Flash drives, internal devices and the cloud are frequently used for the storage of IoT-generated data. Since this type of data generally enjoys the Fourth Amendment protections in the U.S., a court order is typically required for its acquisition depending on the case’s unique circumstances (Ozedirne, 2018).

How are drones being used by criminals and terrorists and what can law enforcement do to combat the use of drones in illegal activities?

Scarcely a week goes by without a headline in the mainstream press announcing yet another instance of criminals using drones to smuggle contraband into prisons, and terrorists are exploiting drones to execute attacks against infrastructure as well as military and civilian personnel. The ubiquity of drone technology and the comparatively low cost of these devices make interdiction exceedingly challenging as the events in Ukraine clearly demonstrate, making the need for a comprehensive approach that combines evidence-based practices with ongoing vigilance to identify new drone tactics.

Where do drones store their data and what types of valuable information can be found?

Depending on the sophistication of the device and its design purpose, drones can collect a wide range of detailed imagery data using onboard storage devices or through connections to the cloud (Guttman, 2022). This data includes thermal imaging as well as highly sensitive cameras that can detect information specific to a given investigation.

Research new and developing technologies to determine what devices, software, or capabilities are emerging. Select two. Describe this new technology, how it can be used by criminal or terrorist networks, and how authorities can combat the threat.

Perhaps the most significant innovations in recent years haves been in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms which can be exploited by criminal and terrorist networks to conduct more sophisticated and cost-effective cyberattacks (Sharikov, 2018). For example, AI-powered techniques can be used to identify and exploit network vulnerabilities, defeat security protocols or launch targeted attacks (. Because machine learning algorithms become “smarter” over time, combating this emerging threat represents a truly daunting enterprise that demands ongoing vigilance and informed countermeasures (Dang et al., 2023).

Conclusion

The research showed that digital forensic practitioners face ethical dilemmas regarding the protection of unrelated sensitive information and maintaining objectivity and bias-free reporting. To ensure their integrity, practitioners must strictly uphold confidentiality and seek guidance when uncertain about the relevance of information. In addition, the research also showed that IoT devices like smart watches, smart home security systems, and smart refrigerators generate valuable data for investigations, such as fitness and health data, location data, surveillance footage, access logs, and alarm triggers. Likewise, drones were shown to store data in onboard storage devices or the cloud, containing valuable information like imagery data and sensor-specific data. Finally, responding to the use of drones by criminals and terrorists requires evidence-based practices and remaining vigilant while using AI-driven security solutions to detect and mitigate emerging cyberthreats.

References

Dang, A., Dang, D., & Vallish, B. N. (2023). Extent of use of artificial intelligence & machine learning protocols in cancer diagnosis: A scoping review. Indian Journal of Medical Research, 157(1), 11–21.