System-Generated Digital Forensic Evidence in Graphic Design Applications

Graphic design applications are often used for the editing and design of digital art. The same applications can be used for creating counterfeit documents such as identity documents (IDs), driver’s licences, passports, etc. However, the use of any graphic design application leaves behind traces of digital information that can be used during a digital forensic investigation. Current digital forensic tools examine a system to find digital evidence, but they do not examine a system specifically for the creating of counterfeit documents created through the use of graphic design applications. The paper in hand reviews the system-generated digital forensic evidence gathered from certain graphic design applications, which indicates that a counterfeit document was created. This inference is made by associating the digital forensic information gathered with the possible actions taken, more specifically, the scanning, editing, saving and printing of counterfeit documents. The digital forensic information is gathered by analysing the files generated by the particular graphic design application used for creating the document. The acquired digital forensic information is corroborated to the creation of counterfeit documents and interpreted accordingly. In the end determining if a system was utilised for counterfeiting. Keywords: Digital evidence, Digital forensic, Digital forensic artifacts, Graphic design applications