Digital forensics and Cyber Forensics

Digital Forensics

Definition:
The broader field involving the identification, preservation, analysis, and presentation of digital evidence from any electronic device.

Scope Includes:

• Computers (hard drives, SSDs)

• Mobile phones and tablets

• USB drives, CDs, memory cards

• IoT devices

• Digital documents, emails, files

Focus:
Recovering and analyzing data (deleted, encrypted, hidden) for legal, criminal, corporate, or internal investigative purposes.
It’s used in both criminal investigations and corporate/internal investigations.

🌐 Cyber Forensics

Definition:
A subdomain of digital forensics that focuses specifically on evidence related to cybercrimes and network-based attacks.

Scope Includes:

• Hacking incidents

• DDoS attacks

• Phishing, malware, ransomware

• Unauthorized access to systems/networks

• Analysis of logs, traffic, firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS/IPS)

Focus:
Understanding and investigating cyberattacks, network intrusions, and threat actor behavior—primarily in cybersecurity contexts.

🧩 Summary of the Difference: