DIGITAL FORENSICS: PRINCIPLES, TECHNIQUES, AND APPLICATIONS

The rapid expansion of digital technologies has transformed the way individuals, organizations, and governments function, communicate, and store information. Alongside these advancements, the nature of crime and security incidents has also evolved, with digital devices, networks, and online platforms increasingly becoming both the targets and the sources of evidence. In this context, digital forensics has emerged as a critical discipline that bridges technology, law, and investigative science, enabling the identification, preservation, analysis, and presentation of digital evidence in a legally admissible manner.
This book, Digital Forensics: Principles, Techniques, and Applications, is designed to provide a comprehensive and structured understanding of digital forensics, ranging from foundational concepts to advanced investigative practices. The content has been carefully organized to guide readers from the basics of digital forensic science—its evolution, principles, processes, and legal frameworks—to in-depth coverage of operating system forensics, file systems, disk imaging, network investigations, mobile device analysis, cloud and virtual environment
forensics, IoT and embedded systems, and cyber incident response. A distinctive strength of this book is its balanced integration of theory, practice, and real-world relevance. Legal, ethical, and regulatory aspects, with special emphasis on the Indian legal framework alongside global standards, are addressed to ensure that investigations align with statutory and professional requirements. Detailed discussions on forensic tools, automation, scripting, and the application of machine learning reflect current industry practices and emerging trends. Furthermore, the
Inclusion of case studies and practical investigations enables readers to connect conceptual knowledge with real investigative scenarios, enhancing analytical and problem-solving skills.

This book is intended for students, researchers, educators, law enforcement professionals, cybersecurity practitioners, and forensic investigators who seek a clear, methodical, and up-to-date reference in digital forensics. It can serve both as a textbook for academic programs and as a practical guide for professionals engaged in digital investigations and incident response.
The authors hope that this work will not only strengthen technical competence but also promote ethical responsibility, critical thinking, and legal awareness in the practice of digital forensics. As digital ecosystems continue to evolve, it is our sincere belief that this book will contribute meaningfully to building skilled professionals capable of addressing present and future forensic challenges.

– Authors