ForensicTransMonitor: A Comprehensive Blockchain Approach to Reinvent Digital Forensics and Evidence Management

Abstract

In the domain of computer forensics, ensuring the integrity of operations like preservation, acquisition, analysis, and documentation is critical. Discrepancies in these processes can compromise evidence and lead to potential miscarriages of justice. To address this, we developed a generic methodology integrating each forensic transaction into an immutable blockchain entry, establishing transparency and authenticity from data preservation to final reporting. Our framework was designed to manage a wide range of forensic applications across different domains, including technology-focused areas such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing, as well as sector-specific fields like healthcare. Centralizing our approach are smart contracts that seamlessly connect forensic applications to the blockchain via specialized APIs. Every action within the forensic process triggers a verifiable transaction on the blockchain, enabling a comprehensive and tamper-proof case presentation in court. Performance evaluations confirmed that our system operates with minimal overhead, ensuring that the integration bolsters the judicial process without hindering forensic investigations.