Digital Forensics
Author(s): Baljeet Malhotra
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2025
Pages: 176
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The Art of Digital Forensics is a comprehensive guide to unveil the intricate world of digital forensics and cybersecurity, providing a step-by-step exploration of the methods, practices, and challenges involved in the examination of digital devices, systems, networks, and their underlying data in criminal investigations. It is an essential resource designed for aspiring and experienced forensic analysts, law enforcement officers, cybersecurity professionals, and legal practitioners.
The book begins by laying a foundational understanding of what digital forensics entails, including the historical context from other forensic sciences and its evolution alongside advances in technology. It offers a detailed explanation of the technical processes and legal aspects that forensic experts encounter when handling digital evidence, from the initial acquisition of data from devices and networks to the complex analysis aimed at uncovering critical insights about criminal activities.
Each chapter is meticulously crafted to offer practical knowledge and theoretical insights, supported by real-world case studies that illustrate the pivotal role digital forensics plays in solving crimes. Topics covered include digital forensic investigation process, digital forensic readiness, digital forensic tools, data recovery techniques, analysis of encrypted and deleted files, handling of digital evidence to maintain its admissibility in court, and the latest artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools and technology transforming
the landscape of digital investigations. Furthermore, it explores emerging trends in API forensics, mobile forensics, cloud forensics, and the implications of new privacy laws on the practice of digital forensics. This book also addresses the ethical considerations and potential pitfalls in digital forensic investigations, ensuring readers are aware of the professional standards and responsibilities that come with various jurisdictions.
This book is not only a technical manual but also a strategic guide, designed to equip readers with the knowledge needed to effectively contribute to their professions, legal systems, crime-solving processes, and, in general, the well-being of our digital world. Whether you are looking to deepen your expertise or beginning to navigate the complex world of digital forensics, this book serves as your guide to understanding and applying the principles of this critical field in the digital age.
Chapter 1 Introduction to Digital Forensics 1
Chapter 2 Domains and Processes 15
Chapter 3 Investigation Readiness 31
Chapter 4 Digital Forensic Tools 41
Chapter 5 Malware Analysis 53
Chapter 6 Criminal Investigations 59
Chapter 7 Financial Investigations 69
Chapter 8 Mobile Forensics 81
Chapter 9 Network Forensics 89
Chapter 10 IoT Forensics 101
Chapter 11 Cloud Forensics 105
Chapter 12 API Forensics 119
Chapter 13 Future Directions in Digital Forensics 141
References 149
Baljeet Malhotra, Ph.D., is a computer scientist with entrepreneurial and teaching experiences in data management, cybersecurity, digital technologies, and business. Dr. Malhotra is an award-winning global tech leader known for his work in Open Source and API Risk Management. He founded TeejLab in 2019 and steered the team to build API Discovery and Security™, the world's first end-to-end API Risk Management platform.
Prior to TeejLab, he established the R&D unit of Black Duck Software in 2016 (acquired by Synopsys for $565 million), and served as a research director at SAP and as a senior software engineer at MahindraTech. Dr. Malhotra received his undergraduate degree in Computer Science from the National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar, India, and a Ph.D. in Computing Science from the University of Alberta. He did his Post-Doc work at the National University of Singapore. He has won several awards including NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council - Canada) scholar and Global Young Scientist (Singapore).
Concurrently, he held adjunct professor positions at the University of British Columbia, University of Northern British Columbia, University of Victoria, New York Institute of Technology and other institutes. He has given numerous industry talks globally and published several papers and patents.
The Art of Digital Forensics is a comprehensive guide to unveil the intricate world of digital forensics and cybersecurity, providing a step-by-step exploration of the methods, practices, and challenges involved in the examination of digital devices, systems, networks, and their underlying data in criminal investigations. It is an essential resource designed for aspiring and experienced forensic analysts, law enforcement officers, cybersecurity professionals, and legal practitioners.
The book begins by laying a foundational understanding of what digital forensics entails, including the historical context from other forensic sciences and its evolution alongside advances in technology. It offers a detailed explanation of the technical processes and legal aspects that forensic experts encounter when handling digital evidence, from the initial acquisition of data from devices and networks to the complex analysis aimed at uncovering critical insights about criminal activities.
Each chapter is meticulously crafted to offer practical knowledge and theoretical insights, supported by real-world case studies that illustrate the pivotal role digital forensics plays in solving crimes. Topics covered include digital forensic investigation process, digital forensic readiness, digital forensic tools, data recovery techniques, analysis of encrypted and deleted files, handling of digital evidence to maintain its admissibility in court, and the latest artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools and technology transforming
the landscape of digital investigations. Furthermore, it explores emerging trends in API forensics, mobile forensics, cloud forensics, and the implications of new privacy laws on the practice of digital forensics. This book also addresses the ethical considerations and potential pitfalls in digital forensic investigations, ensuring readers are aware of the professional standards and responsibilities that come with various jurisdictions.
This book is not only a technical manual but also a strategic guide, designed to equip readers with the knowledge needed to effectively contribute to their professions, legal systems, crime-solving processes, and, in general, the well-being of our digital world. Whether you are looking to deepen your expertise or beginning to navigate the complex world of digital forensics, this book serves as your guide to understanding and applying the principles of this critical field in the digital age.
Chapter 1 Introduction to Digital Forensics 1
Chapter 2 Domains and Processes 15
Chapter 3 Investigation Readiness 31
Chapter 4 Digital Forensic Tools 41
Chapter 5 Malware Analysis 53
Chapter 6 Criminal Investigations 59
Chapter 7 Financial Investigations 69
Chapter 8 Mobile Forensics 81
Chapter 9 Network Forensics 89
Chapter 10 IoT Forensics 101
Chapter 11 Cloud Forensics 105
Chapter 12 API Forensics 119
Chapter 13 Future Directions in Digital Forensics 141
References 149
Baljeet Malhotra, Ph.D., is a computer scientist with entrepreneurial and teaching experiences in data management, cybersecurity, digital technologies, and business. Dr. Malhotra is an award-winning global tech leader known for his work in Open Source and API Risk Management. He founded TeejLab in 2019 and steered the team to build API Discovery and Security™, the world's first end-to-end API Risk Management platform.
Prior to TeejLab, he established the R&D unit of Black Duck Software in 2016 (acquired by Synopsys for $565 million), and served as a research director at SAP and as a senior software engineer at MahindraTech. Dr. Malhotra received his undergraduate degree in Computer Science from the National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar, India, and a Ph.D. in Computing Science from the University of Alberta. He did his Post-Doc work at the National University of Singapore. He has won several awards including NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council - Canada) scholar and Global Young Scientist (Singapore).
Concurrently, he held adjunct professor positions at the University of British Columbia, University of Northern British Columbia, University of Victoria, New York Institute of Technology and other institutes. He has given numerous industry talks globally and published several papers and patents.