The internet is an ever-growing and expanding at an exponential rate. The number of worldwide users has skyrocketed in recent years, with the amount of people online being more than double what it was just ten years ago and over five times greater than in 2005(1).
This rapid growth has enabled everyone to access vast amounts of information in a matter of seconds. The things we are able to do in a moment’s notice on a device that fits in our pocket were unimaginable just a few decades ago. It is not just an adage to say our phones are more powerful than the computers used in the Apollo 11 missions; it’s a severe understatement (2).
While this advance in technology has come with an increased ability to accomplish many great feats, it has also opened the door for cybercriminals to carry out cyberattacks on a much larger scale with higher levels of complexity. Furthermore, the increased automation provided by the advancement of AI has enabled perpetrators with less technical knowhow to carry out large scams with ease.
This has perpetuated a type of magnet-like effect, with the negative output of these cybercriminals requiring a positive counterbalance. The constant adaptation of the means in which scammers are pursuing victims online has led to necessary advancements of tools and techniques used by digital forensics analysts to stay ahead of these scammers.
The future of digital forensics is poised to revolutionize how we investigate and combat cyber threats. With advancements in precise tracking, proactive threat detection, and AI-driven content monitoring, emerging tools are reshaping the industry. These innovations not only enhance forensic capabilities but also redefine how we protect digital identities, enforce cybersecurity laws, and respond to evolving cybercrimes.
Emerging Tools in Digital Forensics
New trends in technology create new opportunities for not only cybercriminals, but also cyber security professionals that specialize in digital forensics. Every technical advancement in human history can be painted in a scary light if you only look at how some used them for more nefarious reasons. The answer for the future of digital forensics is not to avoid these advancements, but to embrace and prepare for them.
- Better Tracking of Cryptocurrency Transactions – One of the main selling factors of cryptocurrency is the privacy of its transactions. This has also made it appealing to cybercriminals trying to remain anonymous, which has led to the development of Anti-Money Laundering and Know Your Customer procedures. These safeguards require the identities of users to be verified in cryptocurrency transactions and monitor for unusual activity (3). While there’s a constant struggle between balancing privacy and security, it is essential that these measures are taken for the future of both cryptocurrency and digital forensics companies.
- AI-Based Threat Detection & Analysis – Many people currently fear the capabilities of AI when used for the wrong reasons, but it can be just as much of an asset in combatting against cybercrimes as it is for enabling them. AI-powered learning algorithms can examine massive amounts of data to provide insight into network irregularities and detect potential vulnerabilities to cybercrimes (4). The acceptance and utilization of new technologies such as AI will be a necessity for the future of digital forensics; not only for understanding the methods of criminals, but also being proactive in preventing them.
- Cloud Forensics – with 94% of companies using some form of cloud storage (6), there has been an increased demand for governance and security of these spaces. This has required digital forensics analyst to expand their scope and utilize their expertise in collecting and analyzing digital data and apply it to cloud storage environments (5). Methods of cloud data acquisition, including network traffic mirroring, packet capture, and flow log data, will be crucial to the future of digital forensics as more and more people turn to the cloud for storage.
- Mobile Device Forensics – Similarly to cloud forensics, mobile device forensics is an expanded sub-category of the existing digital forensics field that has evolved with the increased use of mobile devices. The extraction and preservation of data from phones and tablets, such as texts, calls, and location history, is paramount in the investigation and prosecution of the modern-day cybercriminal (7). As our daily communication transitions primarily to mobile devices, so to should the attention of cybersecurity.
- Combating Deep-Fake Technology – With AI increasing the feasibility of creating deep-fake content used for sextortion and other online blackmail with minimal user input, developing ways to make distinction between original and altered media is crucial to the future of digital forensics. Utilizing tools such as AI deep-fake detection, multi-factor authentication, and analysis of digital signatures can help enable digital forensics analysts to mitigate the future damage of deep-fakes (8).
How Will These Tools Be Deployed.
Understanding these new technological trends and tools is only one step in being able to prevent their use for cybercrimes. Most importantly, there needs to be a plan for how to implement them in current and future digital forensics investigations.
- Replacement for Hash-Based Matching – Hash-based matching can enable a platform to automatically flag and remove reuploaded content that is an exact match to content that has been reported in the past. However, the limitation to this is that altering the content ever so slightly, such as cropping, rotating, or adding a filter, can create a new hash that will not be flagged. The limitations of hash-based matching have only been magnified by the advent of AI, requiring the implementation of these new tools in the future of digital forensics.
- Quantum Computing and Encryption – Quantum Computing utilizes quantum mechanics and qubits rather than the traditional bits used in classical computers. These qubits can exist as both ones and zeros of binary code simultaneously, unlike traditional bits which will always represent either a one or zero. This enables much faster computing of complex calculations.
The issue that arises with these powerful machines is their predicted ability to break encryption methods used to protect data. These methods take a lot of time and effort to break on classical computers, but the aforementioned speed of quantum computers could compromise this security.
Much like the previously mentioned technology, it is pivotal for digital forensics analyst to utilize the future capabilities of quantum computing to stay ahead of cyber criminals. Utilizing its computing speed to develop new tools as well as studying its capabilities to develop quantum-resistant encryption methods are the only path digital forensics professionals in the future (9).
Will These Advancements Keep Toe-to-Toe with Cybercrimes?
Cybercriminals are constantly looking for new avenues to gain access to and exploit their victims. These perpetrators are constantly keeping up with technology trends and formulating new strategies to carry out their attacks. The tech companies responsible for these advancements must also be looking for new ways to prevent the use of their technology for crimes.
Likewise, it is important that cybersecurity professionals take a similar approach to be equipped to fight cybercrimes now and prepare for new ones in the future. Organizations like Digital Forensics Corp. are constantly looking to and embracing the future of technology. Each new technological development can be a tool used by cybercriminals, but they can also be used to take action against them.
Are You a Victim of a Cybercrime?
Whether you are a Fortune 500 company dealing with a data breech, an individual facing the threat of sextortion, or anywhere in between, the experts at Digital Forensics Corp. are here to help assist you. Our team of analysts will utilize tools and techniques such as the ones covered above to unmask the cybercriminals harassing you and remove their leverage.
Our experience in the field has given us proprietary knowledge that enable us to track the location of these individuals, revealing IP addresses, emails, phone numbers, and other evidence that can help you file a report of the crime. Once we’ve uncovered their whereabouts, our connection with law enforcement around the globe will aid you in reporting the case to an agency with the jurisdiction to peruse legal action.
Our services don’t stop there. We can provide ongoing monitorization to protect you from future attacks. Our team can analyze your security systems to help mitigate the chances of breeches an enable you to put yourself in the best position to prevent cybercrimes before they happen.
These types of attacks can happen to anyone, but no one is equipped to handle them alone. If you believe you are the target of some form of cybercrime, contact our toll-free hotline for a confidential and complimentary call with one of our specialists to help you plan your next step.
Sources:
- Number of internet users worldwide 2024 | Statista
- Your Mobile Phone vs. Apollo 11’s Guidance Computer | RealClearScience
- Cryptocurrency Transparency Trends: The Push for Traceability | Kat Technical
- The State Of AI Cybersecurity In 2025 And Beyond
- Introduction to What is Cloud Forensics?
- RightScale 2019 State of the Cloud Report from Flexera
- Mobile Forensics – Definition, Uses, and Principles – GeeksforGeeks
- Protection Against Deepfake Cyber Threats: Navigating the Future of Digital Security – Cybersecurity Insiders
- What is the Impact of Quantum Computing on Digital Forensics?The Complete Guide – Web Asha Technologies
DISCLAIMER: THIS POST IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED LEGAL ADVICE ON ANY SUBJECT MATTER. DIGITAL FORENSICS CORP. IS NOT A LAWFIRM AND DOES NOT PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE OR SERVICES. By viewing posts, the reader understands there is no attorney-client relationship, the post should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a licensed professional attorney, and readers are urged to consult their own legal counsel on any specific legal questions concerning a specific situation.
