title: A comprehensive review on adaptability of network forensics frameworks for mobile cloud computing.
abstract: Network forensics enables investigation and identification of network attacks through the retrieved digital content. The proliferation of smartphones and the cost-effective universal data access through cloud has made Mobile Cloud Computing (MCC) a congenital target for network attacks. However, confines in carrying out forensics in MCC is interrelated with the autonomous cloud hosting companies and their policies for restricted access to the digital content in the back-end cloud platforms. It implies that existing Network Forensic Frameworks (NFFs) have limited impact in the MCC paradigm. To this end, we qualitatively analyze the adaptability of existing NFFs when applied to the MCC. Explicitly, the fundamental mechanisms of NFFs are highlighted and then analyzed using the most relevant parameters. A classification is proposed to help understand the anatomy of existing NFFs. Subsequently, a comparison is given that explores the functional similarities and deviations among NFFs. The paper concludes by discussing research challenges for progressive network forensics in MCC.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mobile Cloud Computing Research (C4MCCR), Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, University of Malaya, 50603 Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ; University of Malaya, 50603 Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Suleman
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5725-6184
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mobile Cloud Computing Research (C4MCCR), Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, University of Malaya, 50603 Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ; University of Malaya, 50603 Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8430-7805
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shiraz
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mobile Cloud Computing Research (C4MCCR), Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, University of Malaya, 50603 Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ; University of Malaya, 50603 Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ainuddin Wahid Abdul
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Wahab
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mobile Cloud Computing Research (C4MCCR), Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, University of Malaya, 50603 Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ; University of Malaya, 50603 Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4388-020X
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gani
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mobile Cloud Computing Research (C4MCCR), Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, University of Malaya, 50603 Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ; University of Malaya, 50603 Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: University of Malaya, 50603 Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Zulkanain Bin Abdul
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Rahman
mesh_terms: D003199:Computer Systems; D044707:Forensic Sciences / Q000379:methods*; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*