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By: Ahlesa Stahl

Computer Forensics. By: Ahlesa Stahl. Topics . What is Computer forensics? Reasons for gathering evidence Who uses computer forensics Steps to computer forensics Handling evidence Anti-Forensics Evidence Processing guidelines. What is Computer forensics?.

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By: Ahlesa Stahl

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  1. Computer Forensics By: Ahlesa Stahl

  2. Topics • What is Computer forensics? • Reasons for gathering evidence • Who uses computer forensics • Steps to computer forensics • Handling evidence • Anti-Forensics • Evidence Processing guidelines

  3. What is Computer forensics? • Computer forensics involves the preservation, identification, extraction, documentation, and interpretation of computer media for evidentiary and/or root cause analysis. • Evidence might be required for a wide range of computer misuses. • Methods • Discovering data on computer system • Recovering deleted and or damaged file information. • Monitoring live activity. • Detecting any computer violations • The information collected helps in arrests, prosecution, termination of employment, and preventing future illegal activity.

  4. Issues in Computer Forensics • Computer Forensics is a great aid to helping solve computer related issues but participants have to be mindful of their actions because of legal ratifications of their actions.

  5. Why Computer Forensics is Important • Computer Forensics is important to aid in investigations and if you don’t practice computer forensics there is a possiblity of damaging vital information or having the evidence inadmissible in court.

  6. Legal aspects of computer forensics • Before intiating an investigation on a computer system you must have legal authorization. • There are legal ratifications to using security monitoring tools.

  7. Reasons for Evidence • There are wide ranges of computer misuses and crimes. • Non business environment: Evidence is collected by Federal, State, and local authorities for crimes that are related to • Theft or trade secrets • Fraud • Extortion • SPAM Investigations

  8. Reasons for Evidence (continued) • Virus/trojandistrubution. • Homicide investigations. • Unauthorized use of personal information. • Forgery • Perjury.

  9. Who uses computer Forensics • Criminal Prosecutors • They rely on evidence obtained from a computer to gain suspects. • Insurance Companies • The evidence found on the computer can be used to find employee fraud, workers compensation, etc. • Private Corporations • Evidence gained from computers can be used as evidence in harassment, fraud etc.

  10. Steps to computer Forensics • Acquisition • Obtaining the computer physically such as network mappings from the system and storage devices. • Identification • Involves what information could be recovered by using running various computer forensic programs and tools. • Evaluation • Evaluating the information/data recovered to  determine if and how it could be used again the  suspect for employment termination or prosecution  in court

  11. Computer steps (continued) • Presentation • This step involves the presentation of the evidence discovered that can be understood by lawyers.

  12. Handling Evidence • Admissibility of evidence • Legal rules that determine if the potential evidence can be used in court. • Must be obtained in a way that assures the authenticity and that no tampering has been taken place. • No possible evidence is damaged, destroyed, or otherwise compromised by the procedures used to search the computer. • Preventing viruses from being shown during the analysis process • The evidence extracted is properly handled and protected from any damage.

  13. Handling Evidence (Continued) • Establishing and maintaining a continuing chain of custody • Limiting amount of time business operations are affected. • Not divulging and respecting any ethically [and legally] client-attorney information that is inadvertently acquired during a forensic exploration

  14. Starting an investigation • Do not start off by looking at files on a system randomly. • Start a journal with the date,time and date/ information discovered. • Collect email, DNS, and other service logs • Designate suspected equipment as “off limits” to normal activity. This also includes back ups and configuration changes.

  15. Starting Investigation (continued) • Capture exhaustive external TCP and UDP port scans of the host. • Contact security, Federal and local enforcement, as well as affected sites or people.

  16. Information that will be handeled • Network information • Communication between system and Network. • Active Processes • Programs active on system. • Logged on users • Users currently using system.

  17. Information that will be handeled (continued) • Non-Volatile information • Includes information ,configuration settings,system files and registry settings that are avaible after reboot. • Accessed through drive mappings. • Information should be investigated from a back up copy.

  18. Computer Forensic Requirments. • Hardware • Familiarity with all internal and external devices/ components of a computer • Understanding of hard drives and settings. • Understanding of motherboards • Power connections • Memory

  19. Computer Forensics Requirements(continued) • Bios • Understanding of how BIOs works • Familiarity of the various settings and limitations of BIOs

  20. Computer Forensic Requirements (continued) • Operation Sytems • Windows 3.1/95/98/ME/NT/2000/2003/XP • DOS • UNIX • LINUX • VAX/VMS • Software • Familiar with most popular software packages such as Microsoft Office • Forensic tools • Familiar with computer forensic techniques and software that could be used.M

  21. Anti Forensics • Software that limits/corrupts evidence that could be collected by investigators. • Performs data hiding and distortion. • Exploits limitations of known and used forensic tools. • Works on both Windows and LINUX systems. • In place post or prior to system acquistion.

  22. Guidelines to Evidence Processing • Step 1: Shut down computer • Prevents remote access to machine and destruction of evidence. • Step 2: Document Hardware Configuration of the system. • Note everything about the computer before relocating it.

  23. Guidelines to Evidence Processing (continued) • Step 3: Transport Computer System to A secure location. • Do not leave computer unattended unless locked up in a safe area. • Step 4: Make backups of hard disks and floppy disks • Authenticate the data on all storage devices. • Must prove that any evidence did not alter on computer after it came into your possesion.

  24. Guidelines to Evidence Processing(continued) • Step 6: Document System date and time • Step 7:Make a list of Key search words. • Step 8: Evaluate Windows swap file • Step 9: Evaluate File Slack • File slack is a data storage area of which most computer users are unaware ; a source of security leakage. • Step 10: Evaluate Erased Files.

  25. Guidelines to Evidence Processing (Continued) • Step 11: Search files • Step 12: Document File names, date and times • Step 13: Identify File, Program and storage anomalies. • Step 14:Evaluate how program functions • Step 15: Document any findings. • Step 16: Keep copies of Software used.

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