DFRWS Conference
DFRWS conferences feature thought provoking Keynote Speakers, hands-on workshops, cutting edge research papers, presentations, panel discussions, demonstrations and poster sessions accompanied by a full schedule of social events including a Welcome Reception, the DFRWS Digital Forensics Rodeo and an expedition. All presentations take place in-person but virtual registrations will be available for those who are not able to attend the conference in person but wish to participate in this historic event.
The DFRWS USA 2025 Conference will be held Tuesday, July 22 through Friday, July 25 as a hybrid event in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The Women in Forensic Computing Workshop (WinFC) is tentatively planned on July 21st as co-located event.
Conference Location:
Levan Center, DePaul University, 2322 North Kenmore Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614
July 22, 2025 to July 25, 2025
DePaul University Campus in Chicago
DFRWS USA 2025 will mark the 25th Anniversary of the Digital Forensics Research Conference and will be held in cooperation with DePaul University at the Levan Center on DePaul’s Lincoln Park Campus in Chicago, Illinois. Chicago, one of the most vibrant cities in the USA, is renowned for its excellent universities, architecture, industry, local cuisine, museums, parks and entertainment. Lincoln Park is considered to be one of the most charming neighborhoods in the city, featuring tree lined streets, original brownstones, local stores and coffee shops, it is situated just north of the gleaming downtown metropolis.
Transportation
Chicago is an extremely well-connected transportation hub by air and rail making it easy to reach for national and international travelers alike. The city also boasts an excellent metro transit system, taxi and ride sharing options. The Fullerton Hall Metro Stop is approximately two blocks from the Levan Center and is served by the Red, Brown and Purple lines.
Accomodations
There is a wide array of accommodation available to choose from based on each individual’s taste and budget. Stay tuned for specific hotel recommendations.
Last year’s event
DFRWS USA is more than just the premier digital forensics research conference; it’s a place to make friends, forge impactful research and industry collaborations, and come up with novel ideas that push the field forward, all while creating memorable experiences!
Participation
DFRWS invites contributions in the categories listed below. The submission details are listed below under SUBMISSION INFORMATION.
Full Research Papers
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 (SoK)
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 systematize, 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. A 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 and Demos
PRESENTATIONS & DEMOS require a brief proposal (about 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 (approx. 15 minutes) during the conference. Note that the presentation/demo will not be part of the published proceedings.
Posters
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 and Tutorials
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: DFRWS will provide one free conference registration for each workshop accepted.
Panel Proposals
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.
Submission Information
We ask you to submit all contributions via EasyChair and select the appropriate track during submission. Please make sure to follow the submission guidelines on the website. 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.
Venue
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.
Student Scholarship and Award Program
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).
Contact Information
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 USA, please send an email to: usa (at) dfrws (dot) org
Deadlines
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.
Please take a look at the DEADLINES section below for specific dates.
Topics of Interest
The Digital Forensics Research Workshop (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.
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 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
Deadlines
Date | Event |
---|---|
January 20, 2025 | Full research papers: Paper Submission Deadline of Abstract & Title |
January 27, 2025 | Full research papers: Submission update (paper upload) |
March 3, 2025 | Full research papers: Early rejection |
March 24, 2025 | Full research papers: Author Rebuttal |
April 2, 2025 | Full research papers: Notification of acceptance |
April 20, 2025 | Full research papers: Camera Ready Paper Submission and Presenter Registration |
March 31, 2025 | Panel Proposals, Workshop, Tutorial, Presentations, Demos: Submission |
March 31, 2025 | Panel Proposals, Workshop, Tutorial, Presentations, Demos: Notification (will be sent on a rolling basis) |
April 28, 2025 | Posters: Submission (no DOI / abstract publication) |
May 20, 2025 | Posters: Notification (Round 1) |
June 10, 2025 | Birds of a Feather: Submission (no DOI / abstract publication) |
Committees
Organizing Committee
Conference Chair
Ibrahim Baggili
Conference Vice Chair
Alexander Rasin
Local Chair
Alexander Rasin
Social Chair
TBD
Chief Organizational Officer (C.O.O.)
Daryl Pfeif
Secretary
Alex Nelson
Technical Program Chair
Heng Yin
Technical Program Vice Chair
Farkhund Iqbal
Workshop Chair
Cesar Vargas
Workshop Vice Chair
Ali Hadi
Presentation Chair
Cheche Agada
Demo and Poster Chair
Farkhund Iqbal
Demo and Poster Vice Chair
Gokila Dorai
Awards Chair
Cheche Agada
Rodeo Chair
Madi Brumbelow
Rodeo Vice Chair
Michèle Gilles
Sponsorship Chair
Cory Hall
Proceeding Co-Chair
Parag Rughani
Proceeding Co-Chair
Hany Atlam
Proceeding Vice Chair
George Grispos
Programing Chair
TBD
Academic Outreach Chair
Adeen Ayub
Industry Outreach Chair
Stephen Villere
Web Chair
Bhargav Rathod
Web Vice Chair
Sebastian Weigmann
Platform Chair
TBD
Platform Vice Chair
TBD
Lightning Talks and BoF Chair
Yong Guan
Recording Chair
TBD
Virtual Participation and Satelite Site Chair
TBD
Social Media and Communications Chair
TBD
Registration Chair
TBD
Keynote Chair
Umit Karabiyik
Student Conferenceships Chair
Irfan Ahmed
Member at large
Wietse Venema, Raphaela Mettig, Frank Adelstein, Kevin Fairbanks, Umit Karabiyik, Yong Guan, Shiva Houshmand, Rima Asmar Awad, Syed Ali Qasim, Atefeh Mohseni, Alexandru Iulian Orhean, Karan Dwivedi, Zhenxiao Qi
Technical Program Committee
Frank Adelstein, Ph.D.
NFA Digital, LLC
Cheche Agada, Ph.D.
George Mason University
Rima Asmar, Ph.D.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Hany Atlam, Ph.D.
University of Warwick
Stefan Axelsson, Ph.D.
Stockholm University
Ibrahim Baggili, Ph.D.
Louisiana State University
Davide Balzarotti
Eurecom
Rainer Böhme, Ph.D.
Universität Innsbruck, Austria
Frank Breitinger, Ph.D.
University of Lausanne
William Buchanan
Edinburgh Napier University
Florian Buchholz, Ph.D.
James Madison University
Andrew Case
Volexity
Nathan Clarke
Centre for Security, Communication & Network Research, University of Plymouth
Rinku Dewri, Ph.D.
University of Denver
Gokila Dorai, Ph.D.
Augusta University
Sharee Dorsey
Cleveland Clinic
Karan Dwivedi
Katrin Franke
NTNU, Norway
Paul Giura
AT&T Security Research Center
George Grispos, Ph.D.
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Yong Guan, Ph.D.
Iowa State University
Mark Guido
The MITRE Corporation
Deepti Gupta
Texas A&M University
Ali Hadi, Ph.D.
The American University in Cairo
Ragib Hasan
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Shiva Houshmand, Ph.D.
Santa Clara University
Farkhund Iqbal, Ph.D.
Zayed University
Wooyeon Jo, Ph.D.
Virginia Commonwealth University
Umit Karabiyik, Ph.D.
Purdue University
Katharina Krombholz
CISPA
Changhoon Lee
Seoul National University of Science and Technology
Sangjin Lee
Korea University
Tamas Lengyel, Ph.D.
Intel
Michael Losavio
University of Louisville
Khalid Malik
University of Michigan
Atefeh Mohseni Ejiyeh
University of California, Santa Barbara
Alex Nelson, Ph.D.
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Bashar Nuseibeh
The Open University, United Kingdom & Lero, Ireland
Martin Olivier
Computer Science, University of Pretoria
Yin Pan, Ph.D.
Rochester Institute of Technology
Gaston Pugliese
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Germany
Syed Ali Qasim, Ph.D.
Grand Valley State University
Tu-Thach Quach, Ph.D.
Sandia National Labs
Muhammad Haris Rais, Ph.D.
Virginia State University
Bhargav Rathod
Salesforce
Huw Read, Ph.D.
Norwich University
Golden Richard, Ph.D.
Louisiana State University
Christian Riess
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Germany
Vassil Roussev, Ph.D.
University of New Orleans
Neil C Rowe, Ph.D.
U.S. Naval Postgraduate School
Parag Rughani, Ph.D.
National Forensic Sciences University, India
Brendan Saltaformaggio, Ph.D.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Mark Scanlon, Ph.D.
University College Dublin
Taeshik Shon, Ph.D.
Ajou University
Jill Slay
University of South Australia
Drew Stelly
University of New Orleans
Wietse Venema, Ph.D.
Stephen Villere
Cellebrite
James Wagner, Ph.D.
University of New Orleans
Heng Yin
University of California, Riverside
Xiaolu Zhang, Ph.D.
The University of Texas at San Antonio