Abstract The digitization of socio-economic activity has necessitated the development of digital forensics as a rigorous scientific discipline dedicated to the identification, acquisition, preservation, and analysis of electronically stored information (ESI). This report examines the evolution of digital forensics from the inception of electronic computing to the contemporary integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain-based chain of custody (CoC) protocols. By synthesizing technical methodologies across heterogeneous operating systems with the legal theories of "equilibrium-adjustment," this analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the current state and future trajectories of forensic science. Key areas of focus include the algorithmic foundations of data integrity, the implementation of explainable AI (XAI) in investigative triage, and the cryptographic transition toward post- quantum resilience. Keywords: Digital Forensics, Computer Crime, Cryptographic Hashing, Explainable AI, Post-Quantum Cryptography, Chain of Custody, Equilibrium-Adjustment Theory Forensics, Digital Forensics Operating Systems, Computer Security, Digital Forensics, Cybercrime, Computer Forensics, Investigation Tools Cybersecurity.
Parla Bellisan (Sun,) studied this question.