The Expanding Digital Frontier: Integrating Digital Forensics Across Traditional Forensic Science Domains
1. Introduction: Digital Forensics Beyond Cybercrime The landscape of forensic science has been irrevocably altered by the proliferation of digital technologies. What began as a specialized field dedicated to investigating computer-related offenses has blossomed into a foundational discipline, providing critical evidence and analytical capabilities across a broad spectrum of traditional forensic domains. This evolution reflects the pervasive integration of digital devices and data into nearly every facet of modern life, creating an expansive digital footprint that is increasingly relevant to all forms of criminal investigation. 1.1. Defining Digital Forensics: Core Principles and Processes Digital forensics is fundamentally defined as the systematic application of scientifically derived and proven approaches to the preservation, collection, validation, identification, analysis, interpretation, documentation, and presentation of digital evidence. 1 This rigorous process is essential fo...