Damian Richardson

Professor Aslan
April 7th, 2024
CYSE 201S

Career Paper: Digital Forensics Analyst

BLUF

           Digital forensics analysts require and depend on social science research and social science principles. This cybersecurity career is beneficial to marginalized groups and society in general.  

Digital Forensics Analyst’s Discipline and Interdisciplinary Responsibilities

           Digital forensics analysis falls under the discipline of cybersecurity. An analyst’s primary duties and responsibilities are “the science of locating, extracting, and analyzing types of data from different devices, which specialists then interpret to serve as legal evidence” (Resendez et al., 2014). In an interdisciplinary lens, digital forensics analyst professionals can combine elements of law and computer science to collect and analyze data from technology in a way that is acceptable as evidence in a court of law (Marcella & Menendez, 2008). Additionally, analysts may step into the social science of psychology and sociology to conduct research and better understand victims and criminals.

Social Impact of Digital Forensics Analysts

           Digital forensics analysis has a social impact in addressing cybercrime, protecting individual rights, and supporting law enforcement. These contributions to society allow for a more incredible opportunity for individuals accessing digital media not to be subjected to victimization by cyber-criminals. For marginalized groups, such as the elderly or people undereducated about the risks of digital media, Digital forensics analysts provide education programs and advocacy for these digital media users with a limited understanding of the risks associated with the internet (Ngo et al., 2024). According to the cybercrime reports made to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) during 2023, phishing was the number one cybercrime affecting approximately 298 thousand individuals (Petrosyan, 2024). The marginalized group in these phishing attacks is the elderly. Digital forensics experts analyze phishing incidents to trace their origin, serving as a deterrent to crime and bringing justice to the victims of this type of crime. Lastly, when investigating suspected cases of child sexual abuse materials, a computer forensic analyst typically spends hours meticulously reviewing hundreds of videos obtained from confiscated media. Their primary objective is to identify whether a person appears in each image and then determine if that individual is an adult or a child (Novak, 2021).

Social Science Research and Principles 

           Social science research and social science principles in digital forensics are present. Some of the fundamental principles that are discussed in CYSE201S are criminology, sociology, and psychology. Criminology is applied in the digital forensics career because its application of criminological theories and concepts aids analysts in understanding the root causes of cybercrimes, the motivations behind them, and the patterns they follow. Criminological theories such as rational choice or strain theory can help analysts understand the motivations behind cybercrimes (Chen et al., 2023). For example, as discussed in Module Five, individuals may engage in hacking or fraud due to financial pressures or a desire for thrill-seeking behavior. Psychology principles help digital forensics analysts understand how individuals behave in online environments. This can be demonstrated by applying honeypots, as discussed in CYSE201S, to gather information about the techniques of adversaries without risking the compromise of critical systems or data. Lastly, sociological research and principles are seen in this discipline as qualitative and quantitative research. This is demonstrated in the analysis’s responsibilities to research “at risk” or marginalized groups of people to address digital inequalities via training and education on cybersecurity, as discussed in module six. 

The application of this sociological research can be observed in a research article that aimed to train people who need to be proficient in English in cybersecurity (Ngo et al., 2024).

Conclusion

Digital forensics analysts rely on social science research and principles, benefiting marginalized groups and society by addressing cybercrime and protecting individual rights. Analysts collect and interpret digital evidence for legal purposes through interdisciplinary approaches blending law and computer science. Sociological, criminological, and psychological insights inform their understanding of cybercriminal motivations and behaviors. This enables them to develop effective strategies and educational programs to mitigate digital risks, such as phishing attacks targeting vulnerable populations like the elderly.

Reference

Chen, S., Hao, M., Ding, F., Jiang, D., Dong, J., Zhang, S., Guo, Q., & Gao, C. (2023). Exploring the global geography of cybercrime and its driving forces. Humanities & social sciences communications, 10(1), 71. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-01560-x

Marcella, A. J., Menendez, D. (2008). Cyber Forensics. Boca Raton, FL: Auerbach Publications Taylor & Francis Group.

Ngo, F. T., Deryol, R., Turnbull, B., & Drobisz, J. (2024). The need for a cybersecurity education program for internet users with limited English proficiency: Results from a pilot study. International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.52306/2578-3289.1160

Novak, M. (2021, December 16). Improving the collection of digital evidence. National Institute of Justice. https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/improving-collection-digital-evidence

Petrosyan, A., & 3, A. (2024, April 3). U.S. most frequently reported cyber crime by number of victims 2023. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/184083/commonly-reported-types-of-cyber-crime-us/#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20the%20most%20common%20type%20of%20cyber,were%20reported%20to%20the%20IC3%20during%20that%20year.

Resendez, I., Martinez, P., & Abraham, J. (2014). An introduction to digital forensics. Research Gate, June, 17.