Get up and running with collecting evidence using forensics best practices to present your findings in judicial or administrative proceedings Key Features Learn the core techniques of computer forensics to acquire and secure digital evidence skillfully Conduct a digital forensic examination and document the digital evidence collected Perform a variety of Windows forensic investigations to analyze and overcome complex challenges Book DescriptionA computer forensics investigator must possess a variety of skills, including the ability to answer legal questions, gather and document evidence, and prepare for an investigation. This book will help you get up and running with using digital forensic tools and techniques to investigate cybercrimes successfully. Starting with an overview of forensics and all the open source and commercial tools needed to get the job done, you'll learn core forensic practices for searching databases and analyzing data over networks, personal devices, and web applications. You'll then learn how to acquire valuable information from different places, such as filesystems, e-mails, browser histories, and search queries, and capture data remotely. As you advance, this book will guide you through implementing forensic techniques on multiple platforms, such as Windows, Linux, and macOS, to demonstrate how to recover valuable information as evidence. Finally, you'll get to grips with presenting your findings efficiently in judicial or administrative proceedings. By the end of this book, you'll have developed a clear understanding of how to acquire, analyze, and present digital evidence like a proficient computer forensics investigator.What you will learn Understand investigative processes, the rules of evidence, and ethical guidelines Recognize and document different types of computer hardware Understand the boot process covering BIOS, UEFI, and the boot sequence Validate forensic hardware and software Discover the locations of common Windows artifacts Document your findings using technically correct terminology Who this book is for If you're an IT beginner, student, or an investigator in the public or private sector this book is for you. This book will also help professionals and investigators who are new to incident response and digital forensics and interested in making a career in the cybersecurity domain. Individuals planning to pass the Certified Forensic Computer Examiner (CFCE) certification will also find this book useful.

Computer forensics touches on a lot of skills - from answering legal or investigative questions to preparing for an investigation, evidence acquisition, and more. The goal of this book is to acquaint you with some of the forensic tools and techniques to successfully investigate cybercrimes, and become a proficient computer forensics investigator.

Every computer crime leaves tracks–you just have to know where to find them. This book shows you how to collect and analyze the digital evidence left behind in a digital crime scene. Computers have always been susceptible to unwanted intrusions, but as the sophistication of computer technology increases so does the need to anticipate, and safeguard against, a corresponding rise in computer-related criminal activity. Computer forensics, the newest branch of computer security, focuses on the aftermath of a computer security incident. The goal of computer forensics is to conduct a structured investigation to determine exactly what happened, who was responsible, and to perform the investigation in such a way that the results are useful in a criminal proceeding. Written by two experts in digital investigation, Computer Forensics provides extensive information on how to handle the computer as evidence. Kruse and Heiser walk the reader through the complete forensics process–from the initial collection of evidence through the final report. Topics include an overview of the forensic relevance of encryption, the examination of digital evidence for clues, and the most effective way to present your evidence and conclusions in court. Unique forensic issues associated with both the Unix and the Windows NT/2000 operating systems are thoroughly covered. This book provides a detailed methodology for collecting, preserving, and effectively using evidence by addressing the three A's of computer forensics: Acquire the evidence without altering or damaging the original data. Authenticate that your recorded evidence is the same as the original seized data. Analyze the data without modifying the recovered data. Computer Forensics is written for everyone who is responsible for investigating digital criminal incidents or who may be interested in the techniques that such investigators use. It is equally helpful to those investigating hacked web servers, and those who are investigating the source of illegal pornography.

Handbook of Digital Forensics and Investigation builds on the success of the Handbook of Computer Crime Investigation, bringing together renowned experts in all areas of digital forensics and investigation to provide the consummate resource for practitioners in the field. It is also designed as an accompanying text to Digital Evidence and Computer Crime. This unique collection details how to conduct digital investigations in both criminal and civil contexts, and how to locate and utilize digital evidence on computers, networks, and embedded systems. Specifically, the Investigative Methodology section of the Handbook provides expert guidance in the three main areas of practice: Forensic Analysis, Electronic Discovery, and Intrusion Investigation. The Technology section is extended and updated to reflect the state of the art in each area of specialization. The main areas of focus in the Technology section are forensic analysis of Windows, Unix, Macintosh, and embedded systems (including cellular telephones and other mobile devices), and investigations involving networks (including enterprise environments and mobile telecommunications technology). This handbook is an essential technical reference and on-the-job guide that IT professionals, forensic practitioners, law enforcement, and attorneys will rely on when confronted with computer related crime and digital evidence of any kind. *Provides methodologies proven in practice for conducting digital investigations of all kinds*Demonstrates how to locate and interpret a wide variety of digital evidence, and how it can be useful in investigations *Presents tools in the context of the investigative process, including EnCase, FTK, ProDiscover, foremost, XACT, Network Miner, Splunk, flow-tools, and many other specialized utilities and analysis platforms*Case examples in every chapter give readers a practical understanding of the technical, logistical, and legal challenges that arise in real investigations

Updated with the latest advances from the field, GUIDE TO COMPUTER FORENSICS AND INVESTIGATIONS, Fifth Edition combines all-encompassing topic coverage and authoritative information from seasoned experts to deliver the most comprehensive forensics resource available. This proven author team's wide ranging areas of expertise mirror the breadth of coverage provided in the book, which focuses on techniques and practices for gathering and analyzing evidence used to solve crimes involving computers. Providing clear instruction on the tools and techniques of the trade, it introduces readers to every step of the computer forensics investigation-from lab set-up to testifying in court. It also details step-by-step guidance on how to use current forensics software. Appropriate for learners new to the field, it is also an excellent refresher and technology update for professionals in law enforcement, investigations, or computer security. Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.

The Basics of Digital Forensics provides a foundation for people new to the digital forensics field. This book offers guidance on how to conduct examinations by discussing what digital forensics is, the methodologies used, key tactical concepts, and the tools needed to perform examinations. Details on digital forensics for computers, networks, cell phones, GPS, the cloud and the Internet are discussed. Also, learn how to collect evidence, document the scene, and how deleted data can be recovered. The new Second Edition of this book provides the reader with real-world examples and all the key technologies used in digital forensics, as well as new coverage of network intrusion response, how hard drives are organized, and electronic discovery. This valuable resource also covers how to incorporate quality assurance into an investigation, how to prioritize evidence items to examine (triage), case processing, and what goes into making an expert witness. - Learn what Digital Forensics entails - Build a toolkit and prepare an investigative plan - Understand the common artifacts to look for in an exam - Second Edition features all-new coverage of hard drives, triage, network intrusion response, and electronic discovery; as well as updated case studies and expert interviews

Updated to include the most current events and information on cyberterrorism, the second edition of Computer Forensics: Cybercriminals, Laws, and Evidence continues to balance technicality and legal analysis as it enters into the world of cybercrime by exploring what it is, how it is investigated, and the regulatory laws around the collection and use of electronic evidence. Students are introduced to the technology involved in computer forensic investigations and the technical and legal difficulties involved in searching, extracting, maintaining, and storing electronic evidence, while simultaneously looking at the legal implications of such investigations and the rules of legal procedure relevant to electronic evidence. Significant and current computer forensic developments are examined, as well as the implications for a variety of fields including computer science, security, criminology, law, public policy, and administration.

Security Smarts for the Self-Guided IT Professional Find out how to excel in the field of computer forensics investigations. Learn what it takes to transition from an IT professional to a computer forensic examiner in the private sector. Written by a Certified Information Systems Security Professional, Computer Forensics: InfoSec Pro Guide is filled with real-world case studies that demonstrate the concepts covered in the book. You’ll learn how to set up a forensics lab, select hardware and software, choose forensic imaging procedures, test your tools, capture evidence from different sources, follow a sound investigative process, safely store evidence, and verify your findings. Best practices for documenting your results, preparing reports, and presenting evidence in court are also covered in this detailed resource. Computer Forensics: InfoSec Pro Guide features: Lingo—Common security terms defined so that you’re in the know on the job IMHO—Frank and relevant opinions based on the author’s years of industry experience Budget Note—Tips for getting security technologies and processes into your organization’s budget In Actual Practice—Exceptions to the rules of security explained in real-world contexts Your Plan—Customizable checklists you can use on the job now Into Action—Tips on how, why, and when to apply new skills and techniques at work

Digital Forensics, Investigation, and Response, Fourth Edition examines the fundamentals of system forensics, addresses the tools, techniques, and methods used to perform computer forensics and investigation, and explores incident and intrusion response,

This hands-on textbook provides an accessible introduction to the fundamentals of digital forensics. The text contains thorough coverage of the theoretical foundations, explaining what computer forensics is, what it can do, and also what it can’t. A particular focus is presented on establishing sound forensic thinking and methodology, supported by practical guidance on performing typical tasks and using common forensic tools. Emphasis is also placed on universal principles, as opposed to content unique to specific legislation in individual countries. Topics and features: introduces the fundamental concepts in digital forensics, and the steps involved in a forensic examination in a digital environment; discusses the nature of what cybercrime is, and how digital evidence can be of use during criminal investigations into such crimes; offers a practical overview of common practices for cracking encrypted data; reviews key artifacts that have proven to be important in several cases, highlighting where to find these and how to correctly interpret them; presents a survey of various different search techniques, and several forensic tools that are available for free; examines the functions of AccessData Forensic Toolkit and Registry Viewer; proposes methods for analyzing applications, timelining, determining the identity of the computer user, and deducing if the computer was remote controlled; describes the central concepts relating to computer memory management, and how to perform different types of memory analysis using the open source tool Volatility; provides review questions and practice tasks at the end of most chapters, and supporting video lectures on YouTube. This easy-to-follow primer is an essential resource for students of computer forensics, and will also serve as a valuable reference for practitioners seeking instruction on performing forensic examinations in law enforcement or in the private sector.