Research Paper On Cross Drive Analysis

Imagine that you are investigating a crime of fraud, where the suspect is creating false documents. Where might you look for evidence on the suspect's computer?

By performing the tasks required in this lab, many other attributes, references, and system information was gleaned that will benefit forensic efforts in the future. For this lab, the time zone of the computer has been isolated to China Standard Time, which in itself is suspicious. BHOs and add-ins were also located using registry values. Among this, there was only a reference to Bing Bar, which was identified in an earlier lab as a download performed on Jane’s computer. Moreover, this lab uncovered startup applications (UPnP.exe and SCVHhost.exe) that were identified as potentially suspicious in previous labs. Lastly, this lab allowed the student to locate USB storage devices that were connected to Jane’s system as well as the times associated with the connection and removal of the device in the system’s

Review the information in the text sheet entitled “Overview of Evidence and Digital Forensic Analysis Techniques,” which describes different types of digital forensic analysis techniques, such as disk forensics and e-mail forensics.

Identifying evidence is the first stage in the process. A laptop, computer monitor, and hard drive are all pieces of evidence that are usually located first. It is critical for the investigator who is identifying and collecting evidence to know what else to look for. Other items that should be identified and collected as possible evidence include external hard drives, floppy discs, CD’s, USB drives, and memory cards. If the investigator isn’t aware what all falls into the category of digital evidence, it is possible that vital evidence may not be collected (Cosic, 2011).

Based upon my extensive knowledge, training and experience, I have reasonably determined that when trying to locate the particular information pertain to the investigation it is general practice to have the electronic storage devices searched by an individual that is well qualified when dealing with computer technology especially in different types of environments. This is key because we need to make sure that all the electronic data is complete and pertains to the search warrant without going beyond the scope of it. To properly examine the electronic data in question it would be more efficient to perform an image copy on the drive where it could be examined at a later time in a laboratory. This is correct for the following

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

Digital crime has been on the increase due to the increasing use of computer and internet. This has led the investigators with another method of fighting this crime. This is Computer Forensics, a process of going into computer hard drive and capturing basic information the user believed it has been erased.

The reduced data process required only 79 seconds to collect the subset from a 320GM hard drive, which presents a significant reduction in time when compared to the time required to forensically image and verify a hard drive using standard forensic bit-by-bit imaging (2014). The proposed methodology presents an efficient solution for reducing data storage requirements while simultaneously reducing the chances of a privacy violation from reviewing unrelated personal information.

From data acquisition, the investigator should move to the process of extracting data. He or she should use special computer forensics software tools to extract important data from various computer devices and networks. The process of extracting data requires the investigator to be knowledgeable about where to search data in the system and the kind of questions to ask (Rogers, 2003). After extracting data, the investigator proceeds to the process of data analysis. By this time, the investigator will probably be having thousands of files. He or she should use computer forensic tools and techniques to analyze the files in order to generate data which is more relevant and concise (Rogers, 2003). The last step of the process of computer forensics involves reporting the analyzed data. The investigators should ensure that the data, which is supposed to be reported, is complete, understandable, and defendable. This will ensure that the final data presented is credible (Rogers, 2003).

Computers are common tools used by the culprits behind white-collar crimes. In order to find “culprits,” the forensic accountant will need to be able to dig deep into the company’s computer system. However, without the proper equipment, that process can prove to be very difficult. To facilitate the preservation, collection, analysis, and documentation of evidence, forensic accountants can use specialized software and computer hardware.

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

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.

The purpose of anti-forensics is to intentionally make digital investigations and the examination of digital media more difficult through several means including data forgery, data hiding or data deletion. The techniques differ in what they do but the purpose is to make sure data is unrecoverable. (Lucia, 2013)

It is important that a financial crime investigator obtains all information generated by the computer by analyzing the caches left in the hard disks. Data recovery from the RAM and any other external drives makes data collected effective and applicable in a court