Top Digital Forensic Tools: Unveiling the Arsenal of Digital Forensic Investigators in 2025

The field of digital forensics has become increasingly vital in criminal, corporate, and family law cases, driven by the rapid evolution of technology and data storage. Clients frequently tell us that the legal sector is relying more than ever on digital forensics in legal proceedings. 

At CYFOR Forensics, we take pride in leveraging the latest tools to extract, analyse, and present digital evidence with unmatched precision. In this blog, we explore the essential tools that underpin our forensic investigations and the emerging trends shaping the future of our field. 

Mobile Device Forensics 

Phone Data Extraction 

We provide extractions for non-proprietary devices (burner phones, etc.), as well as Android and Apple devices. Our forensic tools support a wide range of devices and produce logical, partial, and full file system extractions. Something to note is that physical extractions are rarely performed, as they are only possible on older devices. 

Our team use GrayKey for family cases, excelling at extractions from both Android and iPhones. We also use it for brute-force unlocking devices with no passwords needed. Indeed, as a testament to our team’s focused and diligent work, we’ve just officially received our Extension to Scope (ETS) for ISO 17025 accreditation for Magnet Griffeye and Magnet Graykey. This accreditation extension establishes us as leaders in digital forensics, ensuring that our investigations meet the highest industry standards for accuracy and reliability. 

Phone Data Analysis 

Our team conduct in-depth analysis of extracted data, employing the most up-to-date tools, such as Cellebrite Physical Analyser. These enable deep forensic analysis, including artifact recovery, timeline reconstruction, and encrypted app data decryption. Additionally, our team uses tools that integrate AI-driven automation to identify key evidence across vast datasets, visualise user activity, extract metadata, and establish connections between individuals and digital evidence. These tools are crucial for structuring digital investigations in criminal, corporate, and family law cases. 

Computer & Digital Imaging Forensics 

Imaging can be performed on multiple types of devices, but we generally consider them computer devices. This includes computer towers, laptops, external drives, storage, internal drives, and USBs. 

To ensure digital evidence is preserved with forensic integrity, we utilise cutting-edge imaging tools such as FTK. We also utilise the avant-garde of forensic imagers, which provide high-speed, write-blocked acquisitions, allowing investigators to capture complete forensic images without altering original data. Tools can be adapted to source information in multiple ways. For example, whilst some tools we use operate as a software-based solution, other tools require a physical USB device to first load its own operating system. Once the installation has been initialised, acquisitions can then be performed from live and offline systems, supporting a variety of storage media. 

Emerging Trends in Digital Forensics 

We continuously innovate and invest in our technology, to meet regulatory standards and evolving demands. As data storage methods and evidence collection techniques advance, we adapt our tools and methodologies accordingly. In 2025, we see three key emerging trends: 

Cloud Forensics

With 55% of users relying on cloud services as their primary data storage option, cloud forensics has become critical. We’re developing advanced techniques to address the unique challenges of cloud environments, including: 

• Handling data volatility in distributed systems 

• Navigating multi-tenant architectures 

• Adapting to diverse APIs and data formats across cloud providers 

• Ensuring compliance with international legal frameworks for cross-border data retrieval 

Our goal is to provide efficient, secure, and legally compliant cloud-based evidence acquisition and analysis. 

IoT Forensics 

By 2030, an estimated 29 billion IoT devices will be in use worldwide. This proliferation introduces new dimensions to digital forensics. We’re expanding our capabilities to: 

• Extract and analyse data from smart home systems, wearables, and industrial control systems 

• Develop specialised methods for diverse IoT data types 

• Integrate IoT-related evidence with other digital artifacts 

One of our Digital Forensic Investigators has recently been conducting work to recover data from reset and broken devices, including TVs, ensuring crucial digital evidence is not lost. 

Remote Collection and Analysis 

Remote data collection has become essential in the digital forensics landscape. We’ve significantly enhanced our capabilities to offer rapid response, initiating data collection almost immediately, and a global reach, conducting investigations across multiple jurisdictions. This approach is also cost-effective, reducing travel expenses and downtime. 

Our remote data recovery services enable secure digital evidence collection without physical access, ensuring efficient and thorough digital investigations while maintaining evidence integrity. 

Conclusion 

At CYFOR Digital Forensics, we’re constantly adapting our toolkit to stay at the forefront of digital forensic capabilities. By leveraging these advanced tools, embracing emerging trends, and maintaining the highest standards of accreditation, we ensure that we can handle even the most challenging digital forensic cases with precision and efficiency as we move into 2025 and beyond.