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Destruction of Digital Traces when Concealing a Crime as a Challenge to Forensic Science

https://doi.org/10.30764/1819-2785-2025-1-11-22

Abstract

Detection, examination and use of digital traces of crime are important tasks of forensic science. However, the effective use of these objects is impossible in many cases due to their destruction by an offender himself or other persons. For the first time ever this article deals with a detailed scientific systematization of methods for destroying digital traces for the first time basing on domestic and foreign experience and describes a general algorithm for forensic computer-technical expert examination of the fact of destruction of digital traces of a crime as well as lost information recovery. It seems appropriate to study the patterns of criminal destruction of digital traces in close connection with provisions and results of the development of the forensic doctrine of concealment of traces of a crime by domestic scientists in the “pre-digital era”. One of the relevant tasks is also the development of domestic technical and software tools for destroyed computer information recovery.

About the Authors

A. I. Usov
The Russian Federal Centre of Forensic Science named after Professor A.R. Shlyakhov of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation; Bauman Moscow State Technical University (BMSTU); The All-Russian State University of Justice
Russian Federation

Usov Aleksandr Ivanovich –  Doctor  of  Law, Full Professor, Honored Lawyer of the Russian Federation, First Deputy Director of the Shlyakhov RFCFS, Professor of “Security of the Digital World” Department, the Bauman Moscow State Technical University; Head of the Department of Forensic Expertology of the All-Russian State University of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation

Moscow 101000, Moscow 105055, Moscow 117638



Sh. N. Khaziev
The Russian Federal Centre of Forensic Science named after Professor A.R. Shlyakhov of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation; Joint Stock Company “Scientific-Production Company “Kryptonite”
Russian Federation

Khaziev Shamil Nikolaevich – Doctor of Law, Associate Professor, Principal Researcher at the Forensic Research Methodology Department of the Russian Federal Centre of Forensic Science named after professor A.R. Shlyakhov of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation; Academic Advisor to the General Director of the Joint Stock Company “Research and Development Company “Kryptonite”

Moscow 101000,  Moscow 115114



A. N. Shtokhov
Joint Stock Company “Scientific-Production Company “Kryptonite”
Russian Federation

Shtokhov Aleksander Nikolaevich – Deputy General Director

Moscow 115114



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Review

For citations:


Usov A.I., Khaziev Sh.N., Shtokhov A.N. Destruction of Digital Traces when Concealing a Crime as a Challenge to Forensic Science. Theory and Practice of Forensic Science. 2025;20(1):11-22. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30764/1819-2785-2025-1-11-22

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ISSN 1819-2785 (Print)
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