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The History of Forensic Science

The document outlines the evolution of forensic science from ancient practices to modern techniques, highlighting key developments in various historical periods. It emphasizes the significance of digital forensics and computer forensics in addressing cybercrime, data recovery, and legal admissibility of digital evidence. Additionally, it discusses methodologies in email forensics, network forensics, and social media forensics, underscoring their importance in contemporary investigations.

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12 views4 pages

The History of Forensic Science

The document outlines the evolution of forensic science from ancient practices to modern techniques, highlighting key developments in various historical periods. It emphasizes the significance of digital forensics and computer forensics in addressing cybercrime, data recovery, and legal admissibility of digital evidence. Additionally, it discusses methodologies in email forensics, network forensics, and social media forensics, underscoring their importance in contemporary investigations.

Uploaded by

shashankkatwe0006
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The history of forensic science is fascinating and spans thousands of years, evolving from

ancient practices to the sophisticated techniques used today. Here’s a brief overview:

Ancient Beginnings

 Ancient Egypt: The practice of mummification involved examining and preserving


internal organs, which can be considered an early form of post-mortem (Form of
Death).
 Ancient Greece: Greek physicians like Hippocrates and Galen began studying the
effects of toxins on the body, laying the groundwork for toxicology.
 Ancient Rome: The Roman legal system contributed to forensic science by
establishing principles of evidence and court procedures.

Medieval and Renaissance Periods

 China: In the 13th century, Song Ci wrote "Washing Away of Wrongs," which
detailed methods for investigating deaths and collecting evidence.
 Europe: During the Renaissance, medical practitioners like Ambroise Paré began
studying corpses to understand causes of death.

19th Century Developments

 Fingerprints: The use of fingerprints for identification began in the 19th century,
with pioneers like Henry Faulds and William Herschel.
 Forensic Pathology: The field of forensic pathology emerged, focusing on
determining the cause of death through medical examination.

20th Century and Beyond

 Edmond Locard: Known as the "Sherlock Holmes of France," Locard established the
principle of "every contact leaves a trace," which is fundamental to modern forensic
science.
 Advancements in Technology: The 20th century saw significant advancements in
forensic science, including DNA analysis, toxicology, and digital forensics

Digital forensic science

 It is a branch of forensic science that focuses on the recovery, investigation,


examination, and analysis of material found in digital devices.
 This field emerged in the early 1980s with the rise of personal computers and gained
prominence in the 1990s2.
 Digital forensics involves identifying, preserving, analyzing, and documenting digital
evidence to present it in a court of law.
Need for Computer Forensics:

Computer forensics, a subset of digital forensics, is crucial in today's digitally connected


world. Here are some reasons why it is essential:

1. Cybercrime Investigation: With the rise of cybercrime, computer forensics helps


identify, collect, and store evidence from electronic devices to solve crimes.
2. Data Recovery: It aids in recovering lost or damaged data, which is vital for
businesses and individuals.
3. Legal Admissibility: Ensures that digital evidence is collected and handled in a way
that is admissible in court.
4. Incident Response: Integrates with incident response activities to remediate cyber
threats while preserving evidence.
5. Broader Scope: Covers various devices like computers, mobile phones, tablets, and
IoT devices, making it relevant for a wide range of investigations

Importance of Digital Evidence:

 Digital evidence is crucial in modern investigations because it can provide detailed


and accurate information about criminal activities.
 It can be used to track the actions of suspects, recover stolen data, and provide proof
of cybercrimes such as hacking, fraud, and identity theft.

Applications of Cyber Forensics:

 Criminal Investigations: Used to solve crimes involving digital devices, such as


cyberattacks, data breaches, and online fraud.
 Corporate Security: Helps businesses investigate internal security incidents, such as
data leaks or employee misconduct.
 Legal Proceedings: Provides evidence in civil and criminal court cases, ensuring that
digital data is handled correctly to maintain its admissibility.

Cyber forensics is an essential tool in the fight against cybercrime, helping to uncover and
prosecute digital offenses while ensuring the integrity and reliability of digital evidence.

Analysis of Email in Digital Forensics:

Email forensics involves analyzing emails to gather evidence for investigations. Key
techniques include:

1. Email Header Analysis: Examines metadata in the email header to trace the sender,
recipient, and path the email took.
2. Email Server Investigation: Analyzes server logs to identify the origin of emails.
3. Content Analysis: Reviews the content of emails for relevant information.
Digital Forensics Life Cycle:

The digital forensics life cycle consists of several phases:

1. Preparation and Identification: Identifying potential sources of digital evidence.


2. Collection and Recording: Gathering and documenting digital evidence.
3. Storing and Transporting: Safely storing and transporting the evidence.
4. Examination/Investigation: Analyzing the collected evidence.
5. Analysis, Interpretation, and Attribution: Interpreting the data and attributing
actions to individuals.
6. Reporting: Documenting findings in a detailed report.
7. Testifying: Presenting findings in court if necessary.

Chain of Custody Concepts:

The chain of custody is crucial in digital forensics to ensure the integrity of evidence. It
involves:

1. Control: Documenting who has control of the evidence at all times.


2. Continuity: Ensuring there are no gaps in the documentation of the evidence's
handling.
3. Documentation: Keeping detailed records of the evidence's collection, transfer, and
analysis.

Network Forensics:

Network forensics involves monitoring and analyzing network traffic to investigate


cybercrimes. Key steps include:

1. Identification: Determining the scope of the investigation.


2. Preservation: Preserving the integrity of the data.
3. Collection: Gathering relevant network data.
4. Analysis: Examining network traffic, logs, and communication patterns

Forensics and Social Networking:

Social media forensics is a specialized branch of digital forensics that focuses on collecting,
analyzing, and preserving digital evidence from social media platforms. This field has
become increasingly important due to the widespread use of social media and the rise of
online crimes such as cyberbullying, identity theft, and online harassment1.

Key Aspects of Social Media Forensics

1. Identification: The first step is to identify the relevant social media platforms or
accounts related to the investigation. This involves gathering information from
witnesses, suspects, and other sources1.
2. Collection: Once identified, digital evidence is collected from the pertinent social
media accounts and platforms. This includes extracting data from posts, comments,
messages, photos, videos, and location tags1.
3. Preservation: The collected evidence is preserved in a forensically sound manner to
ensure its admissibility in court. This involves taking care to prevent alteration or
tampering during the extraction process1.
4. Analysis: The preserved digital evidence is analyzed to extract valuable information.
Techniques such as metadata analysis, keyword searches, user profiling, and network
analysis are used to uncover relevant details1.
5. Presentation: The findings are documented and presented in a clear and concise
manner to support legal cases or investigations.

Importance of Social Media Forensics

Social media forensics is crucial for investigating and prosecuting online crimes. It helps
confirm witness testimony, identify suspects, and determine a person's behaviors,
preferences, and connections during an investigation1. Additionally, it serves as a preventive
tool to safeguard individuals and organizations from potential threats.

Tools and Techniques

Various tools and techniques are used in social media forensics, including:

 WebPreserver: Captures and archives web pages and social media content.
 Pipl Search: Searches for individuals across multiple social media platforms.
 TinEye: Identifies duplicate images and tracks their usage across the web.
 TweetBeaver: Analyzes tweets and gathers relevant information from Twitter

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