Problem
In digital forensics, the chain of custody and data integrity are absolutely paramount. Evidence can be tampered with between the point of collection and the courtroom.
Why it matters
If digital evidence cannot be cryptographically proven to be untouched, it becomes inadmissible in legal proceedings, potentially jeopardizing critical investigations.
Insight
What if we built a digital evidence locker that prioritized absolute cryptographic integrity over raw speed? By utilizing the Whirlpool hashing algorithm and demonstrating the Avalanche Effect, we can create an indisputable proof of integrity.
Solution
Engineered an end-to-end digital forensic web application that generates immutable 512-bit Whirlpool hashes for uploaded evidence. I built a verification engine to detect tampering and a specialized "demo mode" to visually demonstrate cryptographic integrity to non-technical stakeholders.
Technology used
Next.js for the core framework, TypeScript for type safety, TailwindCSS for the interface, and a custom implementation of the Whirlpool hashing algorithm.
Impact / Result
Delivered a robust, professional-grade platform that successfully educates users on cryptographic principles while serving as a functional proof-of-concept for secure digital evidence handling.