Digital Forensics Research Conference (known as DFRWS) USA 2025 https://dfrws.org/conferences/dfrws-usa-2025
July 21 to 25, 2025
DePaul University, Chicago

**New submission procedure – details below**
Paper Submission Deadline of Abstract / Title: January 20, 2025

The Digital Forensics Research Conference (known as DFRWS) USA 2025 marks the 25th anniversary of one of the most influential conferences in the field of digital forensics. Since its inception, DFRWS has been a pivotal platform for advancing the science and practice of digital forensics, bringing together researchers, practitioners, and industry leaders from around the globe. Over the past quarter-century, the workshop has been instrumental in the development of cutting-edge technologies and forensic methodologies that have become essential tools in the fight against cybercrime. From pioneering techniques in digital evidence recovery and analysis to fostering innovations in mobile device forensics, memory forensics, and the emerging challenges posed by cloud computing and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, DFRWS has consistently been at the forefront of digital forensic science. The 2025 edition will celebrate these achievements while setting the stage for the future of forensic research and its vital role in securing the digital world.

1) Topics of Interest
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DFRWS welcomes new perspectives that push the envelope of what is currently possible in digital forensics. Potential topics to be addressed by submissions include, but are not limited to:
- Machine learning and data mining for digital evidence extraction/query
- Malware and targeted attacks (analysis and attribution)
- Forensics analysis and visualization of Big Data
- Non-traditional forensic scenarios/contexts
- Network and distributed system forensics
- Mobile and embedded device forensics
- Cloud and virtualized environments
- Vehicle forensics (e.g., drones, cars)
- SCADA / industrial control systems
- Covert channels (e.g., TOR, VPN)
- Additive manufacturing / 3D printers
- Medical devices
- Smart power grids
- Smart buildings
- Virtual currency
- Digital forensic preparedness/readiness
- Digital investigation case management
- Digital evidence sharing and exchange
- Digital forensic triage/survey
- Digital forensic tool validation
- Event reconstruction methods and tools
- Digital evidence and the law
- Case studies and trend reports
- Anti-forensics and anti-anti-forensics
- AI forensics
- HCI’s intersection with digital forensics
- Use of LLMs in digital forensics
- Memory forensics

2) Participation
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DFRWS invites contributions in the categories listed below. The submission details are listed below under SUBMISSION INFORMATION.

FULL RESEARCH PAPERS undergo double-blinded peer review, and the proceedings are published by Elsevier as a special issue of the Journal of Forensic Science International: Digital Investigation. We ask to submit articles according to the submission instructions.

Systematization of Knowledge Papers. As this marks the 25th occurrence of the conference, a substantial body of knowledge has been published through this platform over the years. Therefore, starting from this year, we solicit Systematization of Knowledge (SoK) papers that systemize, contextualize and evaluate existing knowledge of digital forensics. A suitable SoK paper needs to provide unique insights, such as a new viewpoint, a comprehensive taxonomy, and new evidence in supporting or challenging long-held beliefs. A survey paper without such insights is not appropriate and may be rejected without full review. An SoK paper submission needs to have the prefix “SoK:” in the title, and select the checkbox in the submission form. Accepted SoK papers will be presented at the conference and included in the proceedings.

PRESENTATIONS / DEMOS require a brief proposal (~500 words, not a full research paper). These proposals undergo a light review process to select presentations of maximal interest to DFRWS attendees and to filter out sales pitches. Accepted proposals will be given a presentation slot (~15 minutes) during the conference. Note that the presentation/demo will not be part of the published proceedings.

POSTERS allow for the presentation of current research efforts and the discussion of preliminary results with the Digital Forensics Community. Consequently, posters can include early results, a brief demonstration of a prototype, or can outline research ideas. Posters will be available on the website, and authors have the opportunity to present during breaks to receive feedback from the community. Note that posters will not be part of the published proceedings.

WORKSHOPS / TUTORIALS can be 2 to 4 hours (please indicate) and ideally include hands-on participation by attendees, allowing for an in-depth, detailed exploration of tools and techniques of interest to DFRWS attendees. Workshops can cover state-of-the-art research projects, useful tips and techniques for standard tools, or almost anything that DFRWS attendees would consider beneficial. While commercial tools can be used, these workshops should NOT be thinly veiled commercial advertisements.
Note that DFRWS will provide one free conference registration for each workshop accepted.

PANEL PROPOSALS should be one to three pages long and clearly describe the topic, its relevance, and a list of potential panelists, including their biographies (short). Panels will be evaluated based on the topic relevance and diversity of the panelists.


3) Submission Information
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We ask you to submit all contributions via EasyChair (select the appropriate track during submission). Please make sure to follow the submission guidelines on the website (https://dfrws.org/submission-criteria/ ). Organizers may reject work that does not follow the listed criteria.

Easychair submission: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=dfrwsusa2025

Please Note: Accepted papers, presentations, demos and poster submissions will require at least one author to register to attend and present in-person. *Full Research Papers require a Full Registration.

4) Venue
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The DFRWS USA organizing committee is currently planning the conference as a hybrid event, where attendees can attend virtually (via Zoom) or physically in DePaul University, Chicago. Note that this may change according to government regulations. Regardless of how you participate, the program will include Keynotes, Papers and Presentations, Hands-on Workshops, Poster and Demo Sessions, the Forensics Rodeo, Interactive Birds of a Feather Sessions, Lightning Talks, and, of course, Social Events.


5) Student Scholarship and Award Program
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DFRWS continues its outreach to students studying digital forensics. DFRWS and its sponsors will award scholarships each year to students (first authors) who present their accepted research papers. One scholarship will be awarded to the Best Student Research Paper awardee. More scholarships may be awarded, depending on sponsorship funding each year. Exact award amounts will vary but usually cover at least registration expenses for a future conference. DFRWS will notify the recipient of the Best Student Research Paper award on or before the conference registration deadline. Other awards (e.g., industry-sponsored awards for research in specific topic areas) may be awarded after the registration deadline and are entirely contingent on scholarship sponsorship by industry each year. Refer to the website for further details regarding eligibility, funding, and selection (Student Scholarship & Award Program).


6) Contact Information
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Additional information about DFRWS USA 2025 is available on the website: https://dfrws.org/conferences/dfrws-usa-2025/

For questions related to participation (e.g., research papers, presentations, etc.), please send an email to: usa-papers (at) dfrws (dot) org

For general questions about DFRWS US, please send an email to: usa (at) dfrws (dot) org


7) Deadlines (all deadlines are Anywhere on Earth)
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We kindly ask first to register and submit the title, abstract, and author information. The full paper is then due one week later. Note that there will be two rounds of reviews; the first round is early rejections after receiving initial reviews. The papers qualifying for the second round will receive additional reviews for the final decision.

Full Research Paper:
- Title / Abstract registration: January 20th, 2025
- Submission update (paper upload): January 27th, 2025
- Early rejection: March 3, 2025
- Author Rebuttal: March 24-26, 2025
- Notification of acceptance: April 2, 2025
- Camera Ready Paper Submission and Presenter Registration: April 20, 2025

Panel Proposals, Workshop / Tutorial and Presentations / Demos deadline:
- Deadline (Rolling) but no later than March 31, 2025
- Notifications are sent on a rolling basis

Posters deadline:
- Submission: April 28, 2025 (flexible deadline) (no DOI / abstract publication)
- Notification (Round 1): May 20, 2025

Birds of the Feather:
- Submission: June 10, 2025 (no DOI / abstract publication)