Digital Forensics in Internet of Things
Summary
Digital forensics in the Internet of Things (IoT) addresses the identification, preservation, collection and analysis of digital evidence from a vast array of interconnected devices. Unlike traditional computing environments, IoT ecosystems are highly heterogeneous, comprising diverse sensors, actuators, wearables, smart appliances and industrial control units. Data generated by these devices may reside locally, traverse edge nodes or be synchronised with cloud services, giving rise to challenges in volatility, interoperability and jurisdictional governance. Investigators must combine live-acquisition techniques, network-traffic monitoring and memory imaging with robust legal procedures to ensure evidence integrity. Emerging approaches include proactive forensics readiness, decentralised ledger technologies for tamper resistance and machine-learning algorithms for automated threat detection and artefact classification. Practical applications span smart-home burglaries, autonomous vehicle incidents and healthcare device tampering, underscoring global significance. The field continues to evolve with advances in edge computing, privacy-preserving protocols and cross-domain collaboration between law enforcement, industry and academia.
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Digital Forensics in Internet of Things publication trend
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Technical terms
Digital evidence: Information stored or transmitted in digital form that may be relied upon in legal proceedings.
IoT device: A physical object embedded with sensors, software or network connectivity enabling data exchange.
Edge computing: A distributed paradigm in which data processing occurs close to the point of generation.
Intrusion Detection System: A security mechanism that monitors network or system activities for signs of malicious behaviour.
Chain of custody: A documented sequence of evidence handling to preserve integrity and authenticity.
References
- A forensic tool for the identification, acquisition and analysis of sources of evidence in IoT investigations. Internet of Things (2024).
- A Survey on the Internet of Things (IoT) Forensics: Challenges, Approaches, and Open Issues. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials (2020).
- Smart Home Forensics—Data Analysis of IoT Devices. Electronics (2020).
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