Open Access

ARTICLE

Research on Metaverse Security and Forensics

by Guangjun Liang^1,2,3, Jianfang Xin^4,*, Qun Wang^1,2, Xueli Ni^1,2,3, Xiangmin Guo^1,2,3, Pu Chen¹

1 Department of Computer Information and Cyber Security, Jiangsu Police Institute, Nanjing, China
2 Engineering Research Center of Electronic Data Forensics Analysis, Nanjing, China
3 Key Laboratory of Digital Forensics, Department of Public Security of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, China
4 School of Intelligent Engineering, Nanjing Institute of Railway Technology, Nanjing, China

* Corresponding Author: Jianfang Xin. Email:

Computers, Materials & Continua 2023, 77(1), 799-825. https://doi.org/10.32604/cmc.2023.038403

Received 11 December 2022; Accepted 15 June 2023; Issue published 31 October 2023

Abstract

As a subversive concept, the metaverse has recently attracted widespread attention around the world and has set off a wave of enthusiasm in academic, industrial, and investment circles. However, while the metaverse brings unprecedented opportunities for transformation to human society, it also contains related risks. Metaverse is a digital living space with information infrastructure, interoperability system, content production system, and value settlement system as the underlying structure in which the inner core is to connect real residents through applications and identities. Through social incentives and governance rules, the metaverse reflects the digital migration of human society. This article will conduct an in-depth analysis of the metaverse from the perspective of electronic data forensics. First, from the perspective of Internet development, the background and development process of the metaverse is discussed. By systematically elaborating on the concept and connotation of the metaverse, this paper summarizes the different views of current practitioners, experts, and scholars on the metaverse. Secondly, from the perspective of metaverse security, the social risk and crime risks of the metaverse are discussed. Then the importance of metaverse forensics is raised. Third, from the perspective of blockchain, smart wearable devices, and virtual reality devices, the objects and characteristics of metaverse forensics have been studied in depth. Taking smart wearable devices as an example, this paper gives the relevant experimental process of smart bracelet forensics. Finally, many challenges faced by metaverse forensics are summarized by us which provide readers with some exploratory guidance.

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Keywords

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