Computer Forensic Analysis

Digital forensics has always been known across technologists and law enforcement as the art of hacking into a computer and retrieving important information. Information that holds the key to important crimes and issues surrounding criminal activity. More importantly, digital forensics has the ability to make the non-believer surrounding a criminal case into a swift prosecutor ready to use his or her fullest extent of the law; regarding the sensitive data that comes out of that powerful piece of machinery as we know today as technology. Digital forensic scientists have begun to venture into the world of cloud computing and its familiar components. Components such as remote servers, web browsers, and web based media devices that are connected to the cloud.

When was the file created, when was it accessed, was it sent and or received and by what accounts. These aspects are important because otherwise the case that the forensic scientist is working can’t be solved.

Evidence plays a vital role throughout criminal investigations. Typically, we think of evidence as things such as fingerprints, DNA, and fibers. However, evidence as evolved as the world of technology has expanded. Digital evidence also now plays just as much of an important role as traditional evidence. When beginning an investigation that involves digital evidence, it is important for the investigator to know what evidence to look for. Identification of evidence, collection including transportation of evidence and examination of evidence are the three main aspects of the process.

Electronic evidence is very fragile because it can be destroyed or altered very easily, therefore it is imperative that investigators follow very careful all the procedural steps when collecting electronic evidence (Diversified Forensics). Before any electronic evidence is gathered investigators should determine whether there is probable cause that a crime has been committed, or if the crime was committed somewhere else the investigator should determine whether the electronic evidence will aid the investigation process to prove or disapprove the crime, if a warrant is needed it must be obtained prior to collecting the evidence (Diversified Forensics). Hard drives, computers, and other electronic devices must be turned off, unplug all cables,

For this reason, it is imperative that the information gathered is reliable and accurate to ensure the evidence collected can be utilized by the digital forensic investigator for the current case (Ingalls & Rodriguez, 2011). Additionally, cyber incidents require digital forensic investigators to interview various individuals regarding the information needed for the case. According to the National Institute of Justice (2004), interviewing the system administrator, users, and employees of an organization regarding a cyber incident would provide investigators with valuable information; for example, user accounts, email accounts, network configuration, logs, and passwords. Furthermore, for digital forensic investigators to conduct an effective interview, they must have the proper tools and training to employ the interview process. For instance, formal procedures or instructions should be developed and implemented to ensure that the investigator follows a standard during all investigations. Additionally, training should be provided to ensure that digital forensic investigators comprehend by what means to prepare, conduct, and evaluate an interview. Furthermore, resources should be made available for digital forensic investigators to accomplish their tasks; for example, recording devices and references. Also, definitions should be provided to the digital forensic investigators for

A computer forensic investigation typically includes the collection, examination, analysis, and reporting of data. These steps could have been used to extract and preserve the data in the U.S. versus AOL case. Collection involves seizing digital evidence. Examination is where techniques are applied in order to identify and extract data. Analysis is using the data and resources to prove a case (Brecht, 2015). Reporting involves presenting the documentation gathered during the investigation. Investigators use these steps to examine evidence that could be needed in a trial. Following these steps is one way to ensure that the findings are sound and admissible in court. “The purpose of a computer forensic examination is to recover data from computers seized as evidence in criminal investigations (Brecht, 2015)”. Forensic tools are used by investigators to provide their collection, indexing and detailed analysis

It is very important that the data is not altered. Once all the data is retrieved and examined from the computer, the next step is to analyze it. This step is crucial because the forensics investigator can find out when the inappropriate files were transferred or install into the computer and if they have been modified. The analysis is done with specialized tools to review all of the data, protected data, windows registry and email. After the analysis process is completed the forensics investigator will then create a report describing all the steps that he did to find the evidence. The report will be given to the main investigator of the

The OS provides digital forensic investigators with the primary application where the files, folders, and logs of every event that has occurred involving the suspect’s information system can be located. Furthermore, this information can be utilized by the investigator’s to understand how incidents like network intrusion, malware installation, and insider file deletions have occurred. As a result, OS’s is the location where relevant information on incidents or unlawful activities can be discovered with the proper collection and examination

Digital forensics has been responsible for putting away thousands and thousands of criminals. Ranging from simple crime computer crimes to child pornography. To get quality evidence that can be admissible in court there are steps that are needed in preparing a computer investigation. There are also requirements for data recovery, as well as procedures for corporate investigations. “Digital forensics has become prevalent because law enforcement recognizes that modern day life includes a variety of digital devices that can be exploited for criminal activity, not just computer systems. While computer forensics tends to focus on specific methods for extracting evidence from a particular platform, digital forensics must be modeled such that it can encompass all types of digital devices, including future digital technologies” (Reith, Carr, and Gunsch, 2002).

FORENSICS’, its uses, the users of computer forensics, steps involved in this type of forensic

Inept or unqualified individuals are not as knowledgeable with retrieval methods that are accessible using specialized forensics techniques. Dedicated forensics specialists are capable of creating bit-by-bit copy of a drive, without jeopardizing the integrity of data. Competent forensic investigators follow specific forensic methodology that has standard operating procedures for efficiently gather potential evidence (Cumming, n.d.). The goal of an investigation is to understand what happened, who did it, when, how, and why to prevent similar incidents from reoccurring. Dedicated forensic specialists can unearth these answers in a timely and efficient matter. Having dedicated forensics specialists’ means qualified individuals who get it right the first time, because in digital investigation you might not get a second

Practitioners make user of what is called a “forensic kit” in order to image or procure the files from the storage devices in possession of the custodian. Reactive responses are also known as “incident response”. As mentioned in a paper by SANS Institute, a good incident response procedure can be broken down into some basic steps [6] – planning and preparation, incident detection, initial response, response strategy formulation, forensic backups, investigation, security measure implementation, network monitoring, recovery and reporting. More details about each step can be found in the paper. To accommodate these requirements, the forensic kit includes various hardware and software that assists in these phases in a collection process. Below are some types of forensic kits that are used in the computer forensic industry

Professionals and examiners use forensic analysis tools, web log and session analysis and hash analysis to generate evidence. Conversely, which forensic analysis tool is deployed depends on the type of investigation and what is in question. Many of these tools are

In a world where technology is increasingly becoming the way of life, it was only a matter of time before crime was no longer just in the streets but happening online as well. Criminals now get a new approach to carry out their crimes with the use of computers. Since technology is more like a murder mystery than catching the bad guy in the act, a new discipline of forensics needed to be put into place. This is known as computer forensics. Forensic science is any science used for the purpose of law. In the case of computer forensics it is “the discipline that combines elements of law and computer science to collect and analyze data from computer systems, networks, wireless communications, and storage devices in a way that is admissible as evidence in a court of law” (U.S. Cert, 2008). Meaning if you do something illegal on the Internet it can be found.

Four sources of data that stand out for forensic investigators in most criminal investigations are files, operating systems, routers and network traffic, and social network activity. Each data source presents a variety of opportunities and challenges for investigators, meaning that the more reliable data collection and analysis activity typically involves examination of a variety of sources. Digital forensics must cover the four basic phases of activity, which include: data collection, which describes the identification and acquisition of relevant data; data examination, which includes the processing of data through the use