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Abstract: Integrating Internet of Things (loT) devices into smart homes has necessitated the development of novel strategies to address the difficulties and complexities of cyber-attacks and privacy concerns in the current digital threat landscape. One unaddressed challenge is the lack of clarity of information collected and stored by these loT devices in smart homes. The data storage process and privacy compliance of smart home appliances, such as security cameras, thermostats, and smart speakers, are examined in this study. More specifically, this study focuses on sensitive data storage and potential breach exposure, including user commands, timestamps, and network traffic logs of these devices. To achieve this, forensic tools were deployed to collect and examine data from gadgets like Google Nest and Amazon Alexa/Echo following an experimental setup. These technologies were used in a hypothetical investigation that intentionally breached a restricted smart home network and replicated criminal activities. The gathered data was examined to determine the proof of the breach and ensure the chain of events. The findings provided a thorough forensic investigation into the potential digital artifacts within the device and exposed prevalent vulnerabilities of loT ecosystems regarding usage privacy. This study advances the fields of digital forensics and smart home security by offering useful insights and suggestions for improving the security of loT devices.
1. Introduction
Smart home systems have brought a powerful, realistic change for homeowner-occupants: comfort, convenience, and the ability to control their homes effectively. These homes contain interrelated appliances designed to enable occupants to manage different aspects of their surroundings, including lighting, temperature, and security, among others, through smartphone apps, voice recognition, or pre-installed systems. Consequently, where smart homes are already gaining prevalence, they have evolved into vast mini-networks of interconnected loT systems designed to enhance the overall functionality of everyday living. However, as homes become smarter, the risk of cyber threats, vulnerabilities, and even cyber forensics begins to emerge. Smart home devices, though improving the quality of consumers' lives, can be easily exploited by attackers because of their permanent connection to the internet and often weak protection measures. From security cameras and locks to smart thermostats and light systems, these devices produce enormous data that can prove useful in supervising the behaviour of the residents and potential burglars (Do et...