Fundamentals of Forensic Science

Principles of Evidence

• Understanding the Locard Exchange Principle: Its significance in linking suspects, victims, and crime scenes through the transfer of trace evidence. This includes practical examples of how trace evidence like fibers, hair, and soil are used in investigations.
• Chain of Custody: Establishing and maintaining an unbroken chain of custody for all evidence. Detailed coverage of proper documentation, sealing, and handling procedures to ensure admissibility in court. Specific examples of common chain of custody errors and their consequences.
• Types of Evidence: Differentiating between direct and circumstantial evidence, real and demonstrative evidence, and individual and class characteristics. In-depth examples of each type and how they are used in building a case.

Crime Scene Investigation

• Securing the Crime Scene: Protocols for securing and protecting a crime scene to prevent contamination and preserve evidence. This includes establishing perimeters, controlling access, and implementing proper documentation procedures.
• Crime Scene Documentation: Mastering techniques for documenting a crime scene, including photography, videography, sketching, and note-taking. Comprehensive guidelines for capturing accurate and detailed records of the scene and evidence.
• Evidence Collection and Preservation: Proper methods for collecting, packaging, and preserving various types of physical evidence, such as blood, fingerprints, firearms, and digital devices. This includes the use of appropriate containers, labels, and storage conditions to maintain the integrity of the evidence.

Digital Forensics Fundamentals

Data Acquisition and Preservation

• Imaging Storage Devices: Comprehensive training in creating forensic images of hard drives, SSDs, USB drives, and other storage media using specialized software and hardware tools. Emphasis on write-blocking techniques to prevent data alteration during acquisition.
• Live System Acquisition: Performing data acquisition from live systems while maintaining data integrity. This includes capturing volatile data such as RAM, network connections, and running processes before shutting down the system.
• Cloud Data Acquisition: Techniques for acquiring data from cloud storage providers and online services. Understanding legal and technical challenges involved in obtaining cloud-based evidence. Includes methods for authenticating data sources and maintaining chain of custody in the cloud.

File System Forensics

• Windows File Systems (NTFS): In-depth analysis of the NTFS file system structure, including Master File Table (MFT) entries, file attributes, and metadata. Recovering deleted files and analyzing file slack space.
• Linux File Systems (Ext4): Comprehensive understanding of the Ext4 file system structure, including inodes, data blocks, and journaling. Recovering deleted files and analyzing file system metadata.
• macOS File Systems (APFS): Detailed exploration of the APFS file system, including containers, volumes, and encryption features. Recovering deleted files and analyzing file system metadata.

Cybercrime Investigation Techniques

Network Forensics

• Network Traffic Analysis: Capturing and analyzing network traffic using tools like Wireshark to identify malicious activity, data breaches, and communication patterns. Detailed analysis of TCP/IP headers, protocols, and payload data.
• Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS): Understanding the role of IDS/IPS in detecting and preventing network intrusions. Analyzing IDS/IPS logs to identify attack signatures and compromised systems.
• Log Analysis: Analyzing system logs, application logs, and security logs to identify suspicious activity, unauthorized access, and policy violations. Techniques for correlating log data from multiple sources to reconstruct events and identify root causes.

Malware Analysis

• Static Malware Analysis: Disassembling and decompiling malware samples to analyze their code and identify malicious functionality. Techniques for identifying import/export functions, strings, and other indicators of compromise.
• Dynamic Malware Analysis: Executing malware samples in a controlled environment (sandbox) to observe their behavior and identify malicious activities. Monitoring network traffic, registry changes, and file system modifications.
• Reverse Engineering: Using reverse engineering techniques to understand the inner workings of malware and develop countermeasures. Analyzing obfuscated code, packing techniques, and anti-analysis mechanisms.

Advanced Forensic Science Techniques

Mobile Device Forensics

• Mobile Device Acquisition: Performing physical and logical acquisitions of data from smartphones and tablets. Understanding different acquisition methods, such as JTAG, chip-off, and ADB.
• Mobile Operating System Forensics (iOS and Android): Analyzing file system structures, application data, and user activity logs on iOS and Android devices. Recovering deleted data and analyzing mobile malware.
• Bypassing Security Features: Techniques for bypassing screen locks, encryption, and other security features on mobile devices to access data. Understanding legal and ethical considerations involved in bypassing security features.

Database Forensics

• Database Acquisition: Acquiring forensic images of databases, including live acquisition and offline acquisition methods. Understanding database file formats and encryption techniques.
• Database Analysis: Analyzing database logs, transaction logs, and data files to identify suspicious activity, data breaches, and unauthorized modifications. Recovering deleted data and analyzing database metadata.
• SQL Injection Attacks: Understanding SQL injection vulnerabilities and techniques for detecting and preventing SQL injection attacks. Analyzing web server logs and database logs to identify SQL injection attempts.