Digital Forensics

What is Digital Forensics?

Digital forensics is the science of acquiring, analyzing and reporting on digital evidence. It can be used to investigate crimes such as child pornography, terrorism, and fraud. It can also be used to recover data from damaged or corrupted devices.

Free Video Course

This video course provides an introduction to digital forensics. It covers the basics of what digital forensics is and how it can be used to investigate crimes. The course also covers the different types of evidence that can be found in digital forensic investigations.

Chapter 1: Introduction

This chapter provides an introduction to digital forensics. It covers the basics of what digital forensics is and why it is important. It also introduces some of the basic concepts and terminology that are used in digital forensics. If you are new to digital forensics, this is a good place to start.

• Introduction to the field of Digital Forensics

• How to learn Digital Forensics by yourself

• What are the top skills you must learn in Digital Forensics?

• How do Digital Forensics skill augment other cyber domains?

Chapter 2: Fundamental Concepts

This chapter of the video course teaches fundamental digital forensics concepts. These concepts are important for understanding how digital forensics works and how it can be used to investigate crimes.

• Kill Chain and the MITRE Matrix

• The Rootkit Paradox

Chapter 3: Investigating an Incident

This chapter provides a detailed, step-by-step approach to investigating a cyber incident. This approach is designed to help organizations quickly and effectively determine the scope, severity, and cause of a cyber incident. Additionally, this approach can help organizations to develop an appropriate response plan and to take steps to prevent future incidents.

• What is a structured investigation process?

Chapter 4: Windows Forensics

This chapter provides an introduction to digital forensics on the Windows platform. It discusses the features of the Windows operating system that make it attractive to attackers, and the tools and techniques that can be used to conduct a forensic investigation on a Windows system.

• Introduction to Windows Forensics

• Setting up a lab to practice Windows Digital Forensics

• Top 10 forensics artefacts and data sources on Windows

• The Windows Forensics tools you need to learn and master

• A simple process for performing a digital forensics investigation on Windows

• How to investigate Windows Event Logs

• How to investigate Windows Prefetch Files

• How to investigate the Windows Registry

Chapter 5: Linux Forensics

This chapter provides an overview of digital forensics for Linux systems. It discusses the need for forensics on Linux systems, the types of data that can be recovered, and the tools and techniques used to perform forensics. The chapter also provides case studies that demonstrates the use of digital forensics on a Linux system.

• Introduction to Linux Forensics

• Setting up a lab to practice Linux Forensics

• Top 10 forensics artefacts and data sources on Linux

• The Linux Forensics tools you need to learn and master

• How to investigate Linux System Logs

• How to investigate Linux Systemd Journal

• How to investigate Linux User Artefacts

Chapter 6: Memory Forensics

This chapter will explore the exciting field of memory forensics. Memory forensics is the art of extracting digital evidence from a computer’s memory dump. A memory dump is a snapshot of a computer’s memory at a given point in time. A memory forensics analyst can use a memory dump to reconstruct what a computer was doing at the time the dump was taken.

• Introduction to Memory Forensics

• Setting up a lab to practice Memory Forensics

• The Memory Forensics tools you need to learn and master

• Memory Dump Formats and Memory Acquisition Types

• A simple process to analyze malware samples using Memory Forensics

• Analyzing a malware sample with Memory Forensics

Learn how to use the Volatility Framework:

The Volatility Framework is a powerful tool for memory forensics. It can be used to extract all sorts of information from a memory dump, including data about processes, threads, modules, and more. In this section, we’ll take a look at how to use the Volatility Framework to extract this information.

• Getting started with the Volatility Framework

• Investigating processes with Volatility - Part 1

• Investigating processes with Volatility - Part 2

• Using Community Plugins with Volatility

• Investigating Network Artefacts with Volatility

• Investigating Registry Artefacts with Volatility

• Recovering Windows Event Logs from a Memory Dump

• Investigating Disk Artefacts with Volatility

• Using YARA Rules with Volatility

Chapter 7: File Forensics

This chapter provides an introduction to file forensics. File forensics is the process of analyzing a file to determine its origins, purpose, and structure. File forensics can be used to recover deleted files, reconstruct damaged files, and extract hidden data.

• Understanding file formats and magic numbers

• Executable File Types in Windows and Linux

• Lab Setup for Analyzing Malicious Files and Executables

• How to create a good collection of malware samples

• How to investigate malicious Office documents

• How to investigate a malicious disk image file

• How to investigate a malicious batch script

• How to investigate a malicious DLL

• Use Resource Hacker to retrieve a malware’s resources

Chapter 8: Email Forensics

Email forensics is the process of investigating and analyzing email messages in order to determine their origin, purpose, and contents. Email forensics can be used to uncover evidence of criminal activity, track down the source of malicious or unwanted emails, or simply to retrieve lost or deleted messages.

• Introduction to Email Forensics

• How to perform Email Forensics on a Gmail account

Chapter 9: Browser Forensics

This chapter discusses browser forensics, which is the process of using digital forensic techniques to examine web browsers. In particular, this chapter covers the use of browser forensics to investigate web-based crimes.

• How to investigate Firefox browser artefacts

• How to investigate Chrome browser artefacts on Linux

Articles

Digital forensics is a rapidly growing field, as more and more crimes are committed using digital devices. The field requires a strong understanding of computer science and investigation techniques.

• A Day in the Life of a Digital Forensic Investigator

• Build your own Digital Forensics lab at Home!

Windows Forensics

Windows forensics is the process of using investigative techniques to collect, analyze, and report data about a digital event that occurred on a computing device running the Microsoft Windows operating system. The data collected can be used to answer questions about what happened, when it happened, how it happened, and who was involved. Windows forensics is a specialized form of digital forensics that is designed to take advantage of the unique features and capabilities of the Windows operating system. Because of the way that Windows stores data and tracks activity, forensics investigators can use Windows forensics techniques to gain a more complete understanding of a digital event.

• Performing digital forensics on a windows machine – where do I start?

• Windows File System Journal in Digital Forensics

• Windows Event Logs in Digital Forensics

• Windows Scheduled Tasks in Digital Forensics

• Windows Shellbags in Digital Forensics

• Windows NTFS File Attributes for Digital Forensics

• Windows Hibernation files in Digital Forensics

• Windows Volume Shadow Copies in Digital Forensics

• Forensic Importance of Windows File Management

• Significance of Windows Alternate Data Streams in DFIR

• Windows File System Tunneling in Digital Forensics

• Windows Prefetch Files May be the Answer to your Investigation

• Windows Recycle Bin Forensics: Dumpster Diving for Evidence

• Get the Most out of the Windows Registry in your Digital Forensic Investigations

Linux Forensics

Linux forensics is the process of using investigative techniques to collect, analyze, and report on evidence from a Linux system. Linux forensics is a critical tool for investigating incidents on Linux systems. When an incident occurs, forensics can be used to identify the cause, confirm the identity of the attacker, and gather evidence for prosecution. Linux forensics is a complex process, and there are many tools and techniques that can be used to collect and analyze evidence. In order to be effective, Linux forensics must be tailored to the specific needs of the investigation.

• Timestamp Format in Windows, Linux-based and MAC Operating Systems

• A gentle introduction to digital forensics on Linux

• A Note on Linux Directory Structure for DFIR

• Getting started with Linux Forensics

• Shell History in Linux

• Linux Distributions for DFIR

• Understanding Linux Timestamps for DFIR

• Linux Forensics Artifacts in a Users home Directory

• Linux Forensics: Artifacts Generated by Mounted Devices

• Log Sources in Linux Systems

• Linux Forensics: SSH Artifacts

• Acquiring a Forensic Image on Linux

• Mounting Forensic Images on Linux

• Processing the Contents of a Forensic Image on Linux

• Linux Systemd Journal in Digital Forensics

• Linux Forensics Network Artifacts

• Linux Forensics Enumerating Users and Groups

Memory Forensics

In computer security, memory forensics is the art of acquiring and analyzing digital evidence from a computer’s memory dump. Memory forensics is a critical component of incident response, as it can provide insight into what a malicious actor was doing on a system prior to being detected. Memory forensics is a relatively new field, and as such, there are a limited number of tools and techniques available to practitioners. However, memory forensics is a critical tool in the arsenal of any security professional, as it can provide insights that would otherwise be unavailable.

• Uncover Crucial Information within Memory Dumps

• Discover the Truth with Memory Forensics

• Make Memory Forensics Easier With Volatility Profiles

Browser Forensics

Browser forensics is the process of using forensic tools and techniques to examine web browsers and collect evidence of web-based activity. This process can be used to investigate a wide variety of crimes, including cybercrime, fraud, and child exploitation. There are a number of different ways to collect evidence from a web browser, including examining web browser history, cookies, and cached files.

• Web Browser Forensics: Uncovering the Hidden Evidence in your Browser

Miscellaneous Articles

There are a number of articles that don’t fit into any specific category. These are known as miscellaneous articles.

• Endian systems explained: Little-endian vs Big-endian

• File Magic Numbers: The Easy way to Identify File Extensions

• Application of Scripting in Digital Forensics

Other Tools

• Get the Evidence you need with Forensic Images

• The ‘strings’ Tool: Extracting Text for Digital Forensics

• Providing Clarity in the Face of Adversity - Digital Forensics Reports

Workflow

What is a workflow?

A workflow is a series of steps that are followed in order to complete an engagement. In penetration testing, a workflow is important in order to ensure that all steps are followed in order to complete the testing process. By following a workflow, penetration testers can ensure that they are thorough in their testing and that they do not miss any important steps.

Articles:

• Importance of Timelines in a Forensic Investigation

• Digital Forensics: Hashing for Data Integrity

• Search, Seize, Preserve!: Digital Evidence

Certifications

Do you want to become a leader in digital forensics? Then the MCSI certifications are a must-have for your toolkit. With two certifications, you can prove your expertise in the field and demonstrate to employers that you have the knowledge and skills to tackle any digital forensic challenge. You’ll be able to solve complex problems, work across multiple platforms, and gain the trust of your peers. Not only will you be well-equipped to tackle any digital forensic task, but you’ll also have the confidence to take on more challenging roles. Invest in your future today and get your MCSI certifications in digital forensics.

Certified DFIR Specialist

Certified Blue Teamer