Tracking online trails Online publication date: Thu, 27-Nov-2008
by Man Qi, Denis Edgar-Nevill, Yongquan Wang, Rongsheng Xu
International Journal of Electronic Security and Digital Forensics (IJESDF), Vol. 1, No. 4, 2008
Abstract: Traceability is a key to the investigation of the internet criminal and a cornerstone of internet research. It is impossible to prevent all internet misuse but may be possible to identify and trace the users, and then take appropriate action. This article presents the value of traceability within the e-mail/news posting utilities, current online tracking methods, technologies being used to hide identities, difficulties involved in locating the traceable data and the challenges in tracking online trails. Due to the technological nature of cybercrimes, some unique challenges are involved in tracking sources. Anonymity and falsification are the two key ones. The offenders can take advantage of new advanced technologies to make the tracking more difficult and the investigation more challengeable. People even do not have to be technical to commit cybercrimes with easily mastered tools. Apart from technical solutions, international collaboration and law enforcement are very important to track online trails.
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