Researchers at Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) have been awarded a patent for an innovative invention designed to increase the reliability and authenticity of digital evidence used in criminal investigations and digital forensics.
A patent titled ‘System and method for generating a digital fingerprint of digital evidence’ was awarded to Vijith TK Thekke Koodathil, Senior Research Fellow (UGC-SRF), Cyber Intelligence Research Laboratory, Department of Computer Applications; MB Santosh Kumar, Professor and Head, Department of Information Technology, School of Engineering; KV Pramod, Emeritus Professor, Department of Computer Applications; and Sukrith B., Research Scholar, Cyber Intelligence Research Laboratory, Department of Computer Applications, according to the report.
The system is said to strengthen conventional digital evidence hashing techniques by integrating multiple security parameters. It generates a unique digital fingerprint using a combination of cryptographic hash values, hardware device identifiers and geolocation data that records the exact location of the fingerprinting process. Built-in write-blocking technology ensures that the original digital evidence remains unchanged during processing. The system can be operated by law enforcement officers and field investigators right at the crime scene without requiring advanced technical knowledge.
Published – 20 Dec 2025 19:54 IST
