Digital forensic in IoT paradigm: Blockchain assisted digital forensic framework with improved cryptosystem.

This article focuses on a novel blockchain-assisted digital forensic system designed for the Internet of Things (IoT) environment, addressing challenges related to the dispersion and heterogeneity of IoT devices. The proposed framework comprises four layers—Perception, Fog, Consortium Blockchain, and Cloud—where forensic evidence collected at the perception layer is securely transmitted to the fog layer using pseudo-identity mapping and signature confidentiality mechanisms. The fog layer verifies signatures and encrypts evidence with an improved Blowfish algorithm, employing an optimal key generated by a hybrid optimization scheme called SSAJO (combining SSOA and JSO algorithms), before storing data on a consortium blockchain managed by authorized legal entities. Simulation results demonstrate that this approach enhances security against various attacks, reduces encryption/decryption time and latency, and improves computational efficiency compared to existing methods, while maintaining privacy and integrity throughout the forensic process.