Cyber Forensics: From Data to Digital Evidence

Description

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. Cyber Forensics: From Data to Digital Evidence Contents Preface Acknowledgments Chapter 1: The Fundamentals of Data Base 2 Numbering System: Binary and Character Encoding Communication in a Two-State Universe Electricity and Magnetism Building Blocks: The Origins of Data Growing the Building Blocks of Data Moving Beyond Base 2 American Standard Code for Information Interchange Character Codes: The Basis for Processing Textual Data Extended ASCII and Unicode Summary Notes Chapter 2: Binary to Decimal American Standard Code for Information Interchange Computer as a Calculator Why Is This Important in Forensics? Data Representation Converting Binary to Decimal Conversion Analysis A Forensic Case Example: An Application of the Math Decimal to Binary: Recap for Review Summary Chapter 3: The Power of HEX: Finding Slivers of Data What the HEX? Bits and Bytes and Nibbles Nibbles and Bits Binary to HEX Conversion Binary (HEX) Editor The Needle within the Haystack Summary Notes Chapter 4: Files Opening Files, File Structures, and File Formats File Extensions Changing a File's Extension to Evade Detection Files and the HEX Editor File Signature ASCII Is Not Text or HEX Value of File Signatures Complex Files: Compound, Compressed, and Encrypted Files Why Do Compound Files Exist? Compressed Files Forensics and Encrypted Files The Structure of Ciphers Summary Notes Appendix 4A: Common File Extensions Appendix 4B: File Signature Database Appendix 4C: Magic Number Definition Appendix 4D: Compound Document Header Chapter 5: The Boot Process and the Master Boot Record (MBR) Booting Up Primary Functions of the Boot Process Forensic Imaging and Evidence Collection Summarizing the BIOS BIOS Setup Utility: Step by Step The Master Boot Record (MBR) Partition Table Hard Disk Partition Summary Notes Chapter 6: Endianness and the Partition Table The Flavor of Endianness Endianness The Origins of Endian Partition Table within the Master Boot Record Summary Notes Chapter 7: Volume versus Partition Tech Review Cylinder, Head, Sector, and Logical Block Addressing Volumes and Partitions Summary Notes Chapter 8: File Systems—FAT 12/16 Tech Review File Systems Metadata File Allocation Table (FAT) File System Slack HEX Review Note Directory Entries File Allocation Table (FAT) How Is Cluster Size Determined? Expanded Cluster Size Directory Entries and the FAT FAT Filing System Limitations Directory Entry Limitations Summary Appendix 8A: Partition Table Fields Appendix 8B: File Allocation Table Values Appendix 8C: Directory Entry Byte Offset Description Appendix 8D: FAT 12/16 Byte Offset Values Appendix 8E: FAT 32 Byte Offset Values Appendix 8F: The Power of 2 Chapter 9: File Systems—NTFS and Beyond New Technology File System Partition Boot Record Master File Table NTFS Summary exFAT Alternative Filing System Concepts Summary Notes Appendix 9A: Common NTFS System Defined Attributes Chapter 10: Cyber Forensics: Investigative Smart Practices The Forensic Process Forensic Investigative Smart Practices Step 1: The Initial Contact, the Request Step 2: Evidence Handling Step 3: Acquisition of Evidence Step 4: Data Preparation Time Summary Note Chapter 11: Time and Forensics What Is Time? Network Time Protocol Timestamp Data Keeping Track of Time Clock Models and Time Bounding: The Foundations of Forensic Time MS-DOS 32-Bit Timestamp: Date and Time Date Determination Time Determination Time Inaccuracy Summary Notes Chapter 12: Investigation: Incident Closure Forensic Investigative Smart Practices Step 5: Investigation (Continued) Step 6: Communicate Findings Characteristics of a Good Cyber Forensic Report Report Contents Step 7: Retention and Curation of Evidence Step 8: Investigation Wrap-Up and Conclusion Investigator's Role as an Expert Witness Summary Notes Chapter 13: A Cyber Forensic Process Summary Binary Binary—Decimal—ASCII Data Versus Code HEX From Raw Data to Files Accessing Files Endianness Partitions File Systems Time The Investigation Process Summary Appendix: Forensic Investigations, ABC Inc. Glossary About the Authors Index