Acknowledgment

First and foremost, we wish to thank our mentors and Advisor MR,Firomsa Kebede
whose guidance and insights have been invaluable in shaping the content and
direction of this seminar. Your expertise has provided the foundational knowledge
necessary for this exploration of computer forensic

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1. Introduction to Computer Forensics
in the early 1980s, personal computers be came more accessible to consumers, leading
to their increased use in criminal activity (for example, to help commit fraud). At the
same time, several new "computer crimes" were recognized (such as cracking). The
discipline of computer forensics emerged during this time as a method to recover and
investigate digital evidence for use in court. Since then, computer crime and
computer-related crime has grown, with the FBI reporting a suspected 791,790
internet crimes in 2020, a 69% increase over the amount reported in 2019.Today,
computer forensics is used to investigate a wide variety of crimes, including child
pornography, fraud, espionage, cyberstalking, murder, and rape. The discipline also
features in civil proceedings as a form of information gathering (e.g., Electronic
discovery).
Computer forensics (also known as computer forensic science) is a branch of digital
forensic science pertaining to evidence found in computers and digital storage media.
The goal of computer forensics is to examine digital media in a forensically sound
manner with the aim of identifying, preserving, recovering, analyzing, and presenting
facts and opinions about the digital information..This seminar will explore the
evolution of computer forensics, its methodologies, technological advancements, and
its significance in modern cybersecurity and criminal investigation.

2. Background
The development of forensic science goes back centuries, and possibly millennia. The
first records are of specific, isolated cases. The examination of Julius Caesar's body
was one, but there was also the use of fingerprints to catch a debtor in 7th-century
China, and many other examples. The field of computer forensics has evolved
significantly since its emergence in the 1980s. Initially, forensic investigators relied
on simple file recovery techniques. As cybercrimes became more sophisticated,
forensic methodologies advanced, incorporating complex digital analysis techniques.

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 2.1 Scope of Computer Forensics

Computer forensics is a broad field that encompasses various subdomains, each

focusing on different types of digital evidence.

Disk Forensics:

Examines storage devices like hard drives, SSDs, and USB drives.

1. Recovers deleted, encrypted, or corrupted files.

Network Forensics:

Monitors and analyzes network traffic to detect cyberattacks, unauthorized access,

and data breaches.

Uses tools like Wireshark and Snort to capture and analyze network packets.

Cloud Forensics:

Investigates data stored on cloud platforms such as Google Drive, AWS, and
Microsoft Azure.

Addresses challenges like jurisdictional issues and remote access.

Mobile Forensics:

Recovers and analyzes data from smartphones, tablets, and wearable devices.

Extracts call logs, messages, browsing history, and application data.

Malware Forensics:

Identifies, analyzes, and traces the origins of malicious software like viruses,
ransomware, and spyware.

Uses reverse engineering techniques to study malware behavior.

Email Forensics:

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Examines email communications for fraud, phishing, and cyber threats.

Analyzes metadata to trace email sources and verify authenticity.

Memory Forensics:

Analyzes volatile memory (RAM) to detect running processes, malware injections,

and unauthorized activities.

Internet Forensics:

Investigates online activities, including browsing history, social media interactions, and digital
transactions

2.1 Key Developments:

 1980s-1990s: Law enforcement began recognizing the need for digital

evidence collection in cybercrimes.
 2000s: The rise of forensic software like EnCase and FTK enabled structured
investigations.
 2010s-Present: Advanced techniques, such as cloud forensics, AI-driven
forensic tools, and blockchain forensics, emerged to handle complex cyber
threats.

2.2 Current State and Future Trends

Today, computer forensics is a highly specialized field that includes mobile forensics,
network forensics, and IoT forensics. With increasing digital transactions and cyber
threats, forensic methods continue to evolve to ensure effective crime detection and
legal compliance.

3. Motivation

Computer forensics is motivated by the need to uncover digital evidence that can be
used in legal proceedings. It's a vital tool for solving crimes and ensuring digital
security.
Legal proceedings

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Computer forensics is used in criminal investigations, civil litigation, and internal
corporate investigations.
Digital security
Computer forensics helps ensure digital security by identifying and removing
malicious activities.
Solving crimes
Computer forensics helps solve crimes by identifying and analyzing digital
evidence.

Goal

Identify, collect, and preserve evidence

Computer forensics aims to identify, collect, and preserve digital evidence in a way
that maintains its integrity.
Analyze evidence
Computer forensics analyzes digital evidence to determine what happened on a
computing device and who was responsible.
Present evidence
Computer forensics presents the findings of its analysis to be used in legal
proceedings

3.1 Personal Motivation

As cyber threats become more advanced, the need for forensic professionals
increases. Understanding how digital evidence is collected and analyzed is crucial for
anyone interested in cybersecurity, law enforcement, or IT security.

4. Detail Analysis of Selected Technology

4.1 Architecture & Design

Computer forensics follows a structured framework to ensure accurate and legally

admissible digital investigations. The process involves:

 Identification: Detecting potential sources of digital evidence.

 Preservation: Securing evidence without altering original data.
 Analysis: Examining and extracting relevant digital artifacts.

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 Documentation: Recording findings in a clear, structured format.
 Presentation: Presenting evidence in court or investigative reports.

4.2 Technological Components

 Forensic Software: EnCase, FTK (Forensic Toolkit), Autopsy.

 Hardware Tools: Write blockers, forensic duplicators, digital storage analyzers.
 Network Forensics Tools: Wireshark, Splunk, Xplico.
 AI & Machine Learning in Forensics: Automated pattern recognition for
detecting anomalies in cybercrime investigations.

4.3 Features of Computer Forensics

 Data Recovery & Reconstruction: Extracts deleted or encrypted files.

 Evidence Validation: Ensures authenticity and integrity of digital evidence.
 Timeline Analysis: Reconstructs the sequence of events leading to a crime.
 Malware Analysis: Identifies and traces malicious software origins.

Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages:
✔ Aids law enforcement in solving cybercrimes.
✔ Helps businesses prevent fraud and data breaches.
✔ Ensures data integrity and security compliance.

Disadvantages:
✖ Time-consuming and resource-intensive.
✖ Encryption and anti-forensic techniques make investigations difficult.
✖ Legal challenges related to jurisdiction and privacy laws.

Limitations of Computer Forensics

 Evolving Cyber Threats: Hackers continuously develop new attack methods.
 Legal & Ethical Issues: Data privacy concerns and cross-border investigations pose
challenges.


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