Behavioural Digital Forensics Model: Embedding Behavioural Evidence Analysis into the Investigation of Digital Crimes
ORCID Identifiers
Document Type
Article
Source of Publication
Digital Investigation
Publication Date
3-1-2019
Abstract
© 2018 Elsevier Ltd The state-of-the-art and practice show an increased recognition, but limited adoption, of Behavioural Evidence Analysis (BEA) within the Digital Forensics (DF) investigation process. Yet, there is currently no BEA-driven process model and guidelines for DF investigators to follow in order to take advantage of such an approach. This paper proposes the Behavioural Digital Forensics Model to fill this gap. It takes a multidisciplinary approach which incorporates BEA into in-lab investigation of seized devices related to interpersonal cases (i.e., digital crimes involving human interactions between offender(s) and victim(s)). The model was designed based on the application of traditional BEA phases to 35 real cases, and evaluated using 5 real digital crime cases - all from Dubai Police archive. This paper, however, provides details of only one case from this evaluation pool. Compared to the outcome of these cases using a traditional DF investigation process, the new model showed a number of benefits. It allowed a more effective focusing of the investigation, and provided logical directions for identifying the location of further relevant evidence. It also enabled a better understanding and interpretation of victim/offender behaviours (e.g., probable offenders’ motivations and modus operandi), which facilitated a more in depth understanding of the dynamics of the specific crime. Finally, in some cases, it enabled the identification of suspect's collaborators, something which was not identified via the traditional investigative process.
DOI Link
ISSN
Publisher
Elsevier Ltd
Volume
28
First Page
70
Last Page
82
Disciplines
Computer Sciences
Keywords
Behavioural digital forensics model, Behavioural Evidence Analysis, Digital evidence interpretation, Digital forensics investigation, Reconstruction of digital crime
Scopus ID
Recommended Citation
Al Mutawa, Noora; Bryce, Joanne; Franqueira, Virginia N.L.; Marrington, Andrew; and Read, Janet C., "Behavioural Digital Forensics Model: Embedding Behavioural Evidence Analysis into the Investigation of Digital Crimes" (2019). All Works. 658.
https://zuscholars.zu.ac.ae/works/658
Indexed in Scopus
yes
Open Access
yes
Open Access Type
Green: A manuscript of this publication is openly available in a repository