In 2023, around 12.5 billion dollars in losses were reported as a result of cybercrime in the U.S., according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).1 Combatting these losses requires expertise from digital forensics and cybersecurity professionals. They help track, investigate and prosecute cybercriminals while looking for ways to boost security for individuals and organizations who are impacted.
Cybercrime tactics are becoming more sophisticated as technology advances, so investigators must be prepared with the latest processes, tools and techniques used in digital forensics. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) asserts that “There is a critical need in the law enforcement community to ensure the reliability of computer forensic tools” as they continue to address cybercrime.2 If you’re interested in digital forensics and cybercrime investigations, you’ll need to know how to plan, implement, upgrade, manage and monitor the security of data, systems and networks.
With an online master’s in cybersecurity from UWF, you can help combat and prevent cybercrime as a digital forensics analyst, digital investigator, information security analyst and more.
Digital Forensics in Cybercrime: Investigation Process and Techniques
NIST defines digital forensics as a field in which professionals “retrieve, store and analyze electronic data that can be useful in criminal investigations.”2 Digital forensics experts can extract information from any device capable of storing data, and their evidence is admissible in a court of law provided that the proper chain of custody is maintained. Initiating, following and recording this process often falls on cybercrime investigators and digital forensics experts in partnership with law enforcement and government agencies.
Digital forensics experts have significant responsibilities in cybercrime investigations. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, digital forensics analysts help guide investigators toward the right technology, collect and preserve evidence, analyze information and present their findings.3 The process can include other steps depending on the specific case and types of media involved, but most investigations include these four steps.
1. Help Guide Cybercrime Investigations
As with any criminal investigation, cybercrime investigations must follow official procedures for their results to be admissible in court. According to the technology company IBM, the process begins with digital forensics professionals and law enforcement agencies working together to determine what devices and media to search.4 Then, government agencies will seize applicable items according to a formal chain of custody (computers, cell phones, smart devices and etc.).4 Law enforcement will meticulously record those items into evidence, noting every step so the process can be reviewed later.
2. Collect and Preserve Cybercrime Evidence
With access to the devices and accounts needed for their cybercrime investigation, digital forensics experts can start their search for evidence. Smart technology has evolved so quickly that evidence can now be extracted from motor vehicles, drones, the cloud and mobile apps, according to NIST.2 More evidence is also coming from surveillance videos, biometric recognition software and photo analysis.2 With exponentially larger data sets than in the past, digital forensics teams must organize evidence efficiently. Their speed is essential because at the same time, cybersecurity teams are working to secure and protect evidence from being tampered with, stolen or leaked.
3. Analyze and Share the Information
According to Forensics Insider, a forensic science news and content outlet, the field of digital forensics relies on data analysis to hone the search for perpetrators and determine the breadth of cybercrimes.5 Digital forensics analysts utilize several methods as they work with data, one of which is data mining. The data mining process uncovers patterns and helps analysts identify the most important pieces of evidence. SAS, a leading data analytics provider, says that effective data mining can help make informed decisions faster.6 Information from data mining and other analysis techniques is passed to cybersecurity teams who handle the threat, and then consolidated into reports that will be used to bolster legal proceedings and help organizations improve their cybersecurity efforts.
4. Present Findings to Stakeholders
With their reports as a resource, cybersecurity and digital forensics professionals present their evidence to courts, employers, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders in the investigation. Because their reports refer to criminal activity, digital forensics analysts and other cyber specialists must realize the gravity of ethics. Forensics Insider explains that working with personal data requires consideration of ethical practices and applicable laws.5 Without adhering to privacy and confidentiality, evidence from the cybercrime investigation might not be viable in court. Violating privacy policies can also result in penalties, reflect on an organization’s reputation and permanently damage an individual’s digital presence.
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Learn More3 Ways Cybercrime Investigations Are Adapting to Today’s Challenges
Because technology tends to advance at a rapid pace, it will “continue to reshape and modernize law enforcement strategies,” according to Forensic®, a forensic research community.7 Three emerging challenges for cybersecurity and digital forensics analysts are handling cybercrimes in progress, preparing for social media cybercrimes and keeping up with evolving criminal tactics.
Cybercrimes in Progress
Stopping a cybercrime in progress takes several parties, and sometimes details get lost as they scramble to quickly stop the attack. IBM explains that, unfortunately, “Incident response teams can alter or destroy digital evidence while removing a threat,” while “Forensic investigators can delay threat resolution while they capture evidence.”4 One potential solution is called digital forensics and incident response (DFIR), which IBM explains as a workflow where both teams can combine their priorities and complete their tasks alongside one another, sharing valuable information as they go.4 Besides a more informed approach, DFIR has several advantages to cybercrime investigations. According to IBM, DFIR helps cybercrime investigators adhere to appropriate custody of evidence, preserve evidence for reconstructing the crime and arrive at a resolution sooner.4
Social Media Cybercrimes
Social media sites are some of the most prominent digital applications used by Americans, with PEW Research Center reporting YouTube, Facebook and Instagram as the top three most-used social media sites in the U.S. as of 2023.8 Due to the popularity of social media, cyber criminals are turning to these sites to target individuals with personalized threats based on information from their profiles, likes, follows and more. While these threats are becoming more common, each one leaves a digital footprint. With this data, Forensic® asserts that “emerging social media platforms will provide a wealth of knowledge to investigators.”7 One example provided by Forensic® is ride-share apps, which law enforcement can use to track areas with more traffic than others and predict the potential for crime in those areas.7 Cybercrime investigators and analysts could also track the movement of suspects who are using ride-sharing to facilitate their criminal activities.
Evolving Cybercrime Tactics
As with social media cybercrimes, criminals constantly update their techniques alongside the speed of technological development. For example, advancements in Artificial Intelligence have given cyber criminals the ability to create more convincing threats and even use generative software to create deepfakes of real-life company administrators.
But just as cybercriminals exploit innovation for their own gain, cybersecurity professionals can leverage the same emerging technology to counter cyber threats. Graduate programs such as the University of West Florida’s online master’s in cybersecurity provide innovative knowledge and hands-on experience with the latest cyber investigation and digital forensics technology.
How To Become a Cybercrime Investigator
When cybercrime happens, law enforcement agencies depend on reliable digital evidence. It’s imperative that cybercrime investigators prepare to work with nearly any type of technology. These skills can lead to a high-value job as a forensic science technician, digital forensics analyst, information systems analyst, network security specialist, cybersecurity consultant and more.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, preparing for these occupations requires “a considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge or experience” including on-the-job training.3 An online master’s in cybersecurity from the University of West Florida is a great place to start. Along with core courses in the latest cybersecurity technology, you can tailor the degree toward your career path by choosing a concentration in Data Security, National Security, Security Management or Software and System Security.
The M.S. in Cybersecurity program takes only two years to complete, and you can gain hands-on experience in virtualized computing systems of the UWF Cyber Range, a state-of-the-art platform for cybersecurity education, training and research.
Request more information about the online master’s in cybersecurity today.
Sources
- Internet Crime Complaint Center. “Welcome to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.” FBI. Retrieved November 12, 2024, from https://www.ic3.gov/.
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). “Forensic Science: Digital Evidence.” Retrieved November 12, 2024, from https://www.nist.gov/digital-evidence.
- O*NET OnLine. “Digital Forensics Analysts15-1299.06.” Department of Labor. October 8, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/15-1299.06.
- IBM. “What Is Digital Forensics?” February 16, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024, from https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/digital-forensics.
- Forensics Insider. “Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity: Understanding the Intersection and Importance.” April 27, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2024, from https://www.forensicsinsider.com/digital-forensics/digital-forensics-and-cybersecurity/.
- SAS. “Data Mining: What It Is and Why it Matters.” Retrieved November 11, 2024, from https://www.sas.com/en_us/insights/analytics/data-mining.html.
- Forensic®. “6 Ways Digital Investigations Will Change in 2024.” February 21, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2024, from https://www.forensicmag.com/3425-Featured-Article-List/611097-Six-Ways-Digital-Investigations-Will-Change-in-2024/.
- Pew Research Center. “Americans’ Social Media Use.” January 31, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2024, from https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/01/31/americans-social-media-use/.