Digital Forensic Framework for Social Media Crime Investigation using Authentication Technique to Preserve Digital Evidence Integrity

Rakhi Sunhare; Dr. Yasmin Shaikh

doi:10.29284/zpnnz173

Authors

Rakhi Sunhare International Institute of Professional Studies, DAVV, Indore (M.P.)-INDIA
Dr. Yasmin Shaikh International Institute of Professional Studies, DAVV, Indore (M.P.)-INDIA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29284/zpnnz173

Keywords:

Digital Forensics, Social Media Sites (SMSs), Digital Crime, Models & Digital Evidence.

Abstract

With the rapid growth of social networking platforms, criminals increasingly exploit these environments to carry out illegal activities. The evidence associated with such crimes is often stored in cloud-based systems, where it can be easily altered or deleted. As a result, digital crime investigations have become more challenging due to the massive volume of data, varied data formats, multiple data sources, the volatile nature of digital evidence, and the limitations of traditional digital forensic freamworks, models and tools. To ensure that digital evidence remains reliable and legally admissible, it must be collected using a validated and approved forensic process that preserves its integrity. Consequently, there is a critical need to develop a digital forensic framework tailored specifically to online social networks in order to support effective investigations and obtain high-quality evidence.

The findings indicate that studies in existing literature focus mainly on general investigation approaches, many of which overlap in their processes. Furthermore, there is lack of comprehensive model specifically designed to conduct investigations within social networking environments. Several existing digital forensic models address either the investigation phase or the examination phase, but fail to integrate both. In this research paper, existing digital forensic models and frameworks related to social networks are analyzed. A novel framework titled Social Media Crime Investigation Using an Authentication Technique to Preserve Digital Evidence Integrity (SMI-ATPDEI) for the investigation of digital crimes committed on social networking platforms is proposed. The proposed framework includes both investigation and examination processes for preserving the integrity of digital evidence.

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