Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Source of Publication

Digital Investigation

Publication Date

1-1-2016

Abstract

Behavioural Evidence Analysis (BEA) is, in theory, useful in developing an understanding of the offender, the victim, the crime scene, and the dynamics of the crime. It can add meaning to the evidence obtained through digital forensic techniques and assist investigators with reconstruction of a crime. There is, however, little empirical research examining the application of BEA to actual criminal cases, particularly cyberstalking cases. This study addresses this gap by examining the utility of BEA for such cases in terms of understanding the behavioural and motivational dimensions of offending, and the way in which digital evidence can be interpreted. It reports on the forensic analysis of 20 cyberstalking cases investigated by Dubai Police in the last five years. Results showed that BEA helps to focus an investigation, enables better understanding and interpretation of victim and offender behaviour, and assists in inferring traits of the offender from available digital evidence. These benefits can help investigators to build a stronger case, reduce time wasted to mistakes, and to exclude suspects wrongly accused in cyberstalking cases.

ISSN

1742-2876

Publisher

Elsevier Ltd

Volume

16

First Page

S96

Last Page

S103

Disciplines

Computer Sciences

Keywords

Computer forensics, Image reconstruction, Cyberstalking, Digital evidence, Digital forensic, Digital investigation, Empirical research, Evidence analysis, Forensic analysis, Forensic investigation, Crime

Scopus ID

84962367206

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

yes

Open Access Type

Hybrid: This publication is openly available in a subscription-based journal/series

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