This volume shows law enforcement, system administrators, information technology security professionals, legal professionals, and computer forensics students how to identify, collect, and maintain digital artifacts to preserve their reliability as evidence. It focuses on the first two phases of computer forensics--collection and preservation--and uses evidence dynamics as its main approach. This edition has been updated to take into account changes in federal rules of evidence and case law, as well as changes in the industry and technology. The CD-ROM contains sample batch files, forms, and demo and freeware software applications discussed in the book. Brown (network security and computer forensics, U. of California at San Diego) retired from the US Navy in the area of information warfare and network security operations.
Though an increasing number of criminals are using computers and computer networks, few investigators are well versed in the issues related to digital evidence. This work explains how computer networks function and how they can be used in a crime.
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.
An explanation of the basic principles of data This book explains the basic principles of data as building blocks of electronic evidential matter, which are used in a cyber forensics investigations. The entire text is written with no reference to a particular operation system or environment, thus it is applicable to all work environments, cyber investigation scenarios, and technologies. The text is written in a step-by-step manner, beginning with the elementary building blocks of data progressing upwards to the representation and storage of information. It inlcudes practical examples and illustrations throughout to guide the reader.
The vast majority of modern criminal investigations involve some element of digital evidence, from mobile phones, computers, CCTV and other devices. Digital Forensics: Digital Evidence in Criminal Investigations provides the reader with a better understanding of how digital evidence complements “traditional” scientific evidence and examines how it can be used more effectively and efficiently in a range of investigations. Taking a new approach to the topic, this book presents digital evidence as an adjunct to other types of evidence and discusses how it can be deployed effectively in support of investigations. The book provides investigators/SSMs/other managers with sufficient contextual and technical information to be able to make more effective use of digital evidence sources in support of a range of investigations. In particular, it considers the roles played by digital devices in society and hence in criminal activities. From this, it examines the role and nature of evidential data which may be recoverable from a range of devices, considering issues relating to reliability and usefulness of those data. Includes worked case examples, test questions and review quizzes to enhance student understanding Solutions provided in an accompanying website Includes numerous case studies throughout to highlight how digital evidence is handled at the crime scene and what can happen when procedures are carried out incorrectly Considers digital evidence in a broader context alongside other scientific evidence Discusses the role of digital devices in criminal activities and provides methods for the evaluation and prioritizing of evidence sources Includes discussion of the issues surrounding modern digital evidence examinations, for example; volume of material and its complexity Clear overview of all types of digital evidence Digital Forensics: Digital Evidence in Criminal Investigations is an invaluable text for undergraduate students taking either general forensic science courses where digital forensics may be a module or a dedicated computer/digital forensics degree course. The book is also a useful overview of the subject for postgraduate students and forensic practitioners.
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.
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.
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
