Design and Development of a Web-Based Digital Evidence Management System for Cybercrime Investigations

The rise in cybercrime incidents has necessitated more efficient, secure, and transparent methods for managing digital evidence throughout the investigative process. Traditional evidence handling techniques often suffer from inefficiencies, lack of centralized access, and poor chain-of-custody management, which can compromise the admissibility of evidence in court. This study presents the design and development of a web-based Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) aimed at addressing these challenges.

The system was developed using a combination of web technologies including PHP, MySQL, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It features secure user authentication, role-based access control, evidence upload and classification, chain-of-custody tracking, file integrity verification using hash functions, and comprehensive audit logging. The system ensures that all interactions with digital evidence are recorded and monitored to uphold accountability and support forensic soundness.

An agile development methodology was adopted to accommodate evolving requirements and feedback from key stakeholders such as digital forensic investigators and law enforcement professionals. The system was tested using simulated cybercrime scenarios, demonstrating its effectiveness in managing digital evidence securely, ensuring integrity, and maintaining a complete chain of custody.

The findings indicate that a web-based approach to evidence management can significantly enhance collaboration, transparency, and the overall efficiency of cybercrime investigations. This work contributes to digital forensics by offering a scalable and practical solution that meets legal and investigative standards for digital evidence handling.