Book Image

Learning Network Forensics

By : Samir Datt
Book Image

Learning Network Forensics

By: Samir Datt

Overview of this book

We live in a highly networked world. Every digital device—phone, tablet, or computer is connected to each other, in one way or another. In this new age of connected networks, there is network crime. Network forensics is the brave new frontier of digital investigation and information security professionals to extend their abilities to catch miscreants on the network. The book starts with an introduction to the world of network forensics and investigations. You will begin by getting an understanding of how to gather both physical and virtual evidence, intercepting and analyzing network data, wireless data packets, investigating intrusions, and so on. You will further explore the technology, tools, and investigating methods using malware forensics, network tunneling, and behaviors. By the end of the book, you will gain a complete understanding of how to successfully close a case.

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Learning Network Forensics
Samir Datt
Feb, 2016 | 274 pages
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Table of Contents (17 chapters)
Learning Network Forensics
Learning Network Forensics
Credits
Credits
About the Author
About the Author
About the Reviewers
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Preface
Free Chapter
1
Becoming Network 007s
Becoming Network 007s
007 characteristics in the network world
Identifying threats to the enterprise
Data breach surveys
Defining network forensics
Differentiating between computer forensics and network forensics
Strengthening our technical fundamentals
Understanding network security
Network security goals
Digital footprints
Summary
2
Laying Hands on the Evidence
Laying Hands on the Evidence
Identifying sources of evidence
Learning to handle the evidence
Collecting network traffic using tcpdump
Collecting network traffic using Wireshark
Collecting network logs
Acquiring memory using FTK Imager
Summary
3
Capturing & Analyzing Data Packets
Capturing & Analyzing Data Packets
Tapping into network traffic
Packet sniffing and analysis using Wireshark
Packet sniffing and analysis using NetworkMiner
Case study – tracking down an insider
Summary
4
Going Wireless
Going Wireless
Laying the foundation – IEEE 802.11
Understanding wireless protection and security
Discussing common attacks on Wi-Fi networks
Capturing and analyzing wireless traffic
Summary
5
Tracking an Intruder on the Network
Tracking an Intruder on the Network
Understanding Network Intrusion Detection Systems
Understanding Network Intrusion Prevention Systems
Modes of detection
Differentiating between NIDS and NIPS
Using SNORT for network intrusion detection and prevention
Summary
6
Connecting the Dots – Event Logs
Connecting the Dots – Event Logs
Understanding log formats
Use case
Discovering the connection between logs and forensics
Practicing sensible log management
Analyzing network logs using Splunk
Summary
7
Proxies, Firewalls, and Routers
Proxies, Firewalls, and Routers
Getting proxies to confess
Making firewalls talk
Tales routers tell
Summary
8
Smuggling Forbidden Protocols – Network Tunneling
Smuggling Forbidden Protocols – Network Tunneling
Understanding VPNs
How does tunneling work?
Types of tunneling protocols
Various VPN vulnerabilities & logging
Summary
9
Investigating Malware – Cyber Weapons of the Internet
Investigating Malware – Cyber Weapons of the Internet
Knowing malware
Trends in the evolution of malware
Malware types and their impact
Understanding malware payload behavior
Malware attack architecture
Indicators of Compromise
Performing malware forensics
Summary
10
Closing the Deal – Solving the Case
Closing the Deal – Solving the Case
Revisiting the TAARA investigation methodology
Triggering the case
Acquiring the information and evidence
Analyzing the collected data – digging deep
Reporting the case
Action for the future
Future of network forensics
Summary
Index
Index

Action for the future

Once any incident is over and done with, the team needs to focus on the lessons learned. From an incident response perspective, the focus is on answering questions such as the following:

  • How did this happen?

  • What can we do to prevent it from reoccurring?

  • What preventive measures can be put into place?

  • How can monitoring and alerting be improved?

From a network forensics perspective, the additional questions to be answered include the following:

  • Which artifacts exist that can help us identify such an incident in the future?

  • What are the lessons learned?

  • How can we improve the investigation process?

  • What IOC can be identified that can be shared with the Incident Response team to help prevent a reoccurrence of such an incident?

While the attackers constantly evolve and innovate in order to keep coming up with newer ways to compromise the networks without getting detected, network forensic investigators too have to keep pace. This means constantly updating oneself, learning from...

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