Behavioural Evidence Analysis: A Paradigm Shift in Digital Forensics

Abstract

Recent developments in digital forensics (DF) have emphasized that along with inspection of digital evidence, the study of behavioural clues based on behavioural evidence analysis (BEA) is vital for accurate and complete criminal investigation. This paper reviews the existing BEA approaches and process models and concludes the lack of standardisation in the BEA process. The research comprehends that existing BEA methodologies are restricted to specific characteristics of the forensic domain in question. To address these limitations, the paper proposes a standardised approach detailing the step-by-step implementation of BEA in the DF process. The proposed model presents a homogenous technique that can be practically applied to real-life cases. This standard BEA framework classifies digital evidence into categories to decipher associated offender characteristics. Unlike existing models, this new approach collects evidence from diverse sources and leaves no aspect unattended while probing criminal behavioural cues, thus facilitating its applicability across varied forensic domains.