Shiva V.N. Parasram is an IT and cybersecurity professional with 13 years of experience in IT security and over 5 years in penetration testing and digital forensics investigations and training. Some of his qualifications include an MSc. in Network Security (Distinction), CEH, CHFI, ECSA, CEI, CCNA, ACE, and NSE. Having been the Director and CISO of his own company, the Computer Forensics and Security Institute (CFSI), since 2011, he has carried out investigations and pentesting for some of the largest private companies in the Caribbean. As a Certified EC-Council Instructor (CEI), he has also trained many people in the banking and private sectors, the Ministry of National Security, and protective services in Trinidad and Tobago, and also lectures in digital forensics at the postgraduate level.
Being a cyber-security and forensics lecturer at heart, I've always loved sharing my knowledge and creating labs and tutorials, hoping to someday have them all published. Needless to say, I was nothing short of elated when Rahul Nair of Packt Publishing contacted me and offered me the amazing opportunity to write this book. Many thanks to everyone who made the publishing of this book possible. To my Packt family, including my technical editor Vishal Mewada and editor and friend, Nithin George Varghese, for all his encouragement, especially at times when I was completely overwhelmed and needed those many motivational talks. To my cheerleaders at work, Heather Ali and Deborah Romero, who would pick up lunch for me on a daily basis and encourage me to use my lunch hour to further my research. My brilliant technical reviewers, Mr. Dale Joseph at the National CyberCrime Unit and Mr. Alex Samm, the international Sys. Admin. himself at ESP Global. Special thanks to Bepnesh Goolcharran of Tier10 Technologies and Mr. Glen Singh of XyberFusion Ltd. for their exceptional research assistance at all hours of the evening, including at weekends. To my MSc Lecturer, Mr. Vishal Ramnarine, for all his support and encouragement in pushing me to always give my best and rise to the top. Special thanks to my dear Guru Pt. Hardeo Persad, my friends Dr. Mala Maharaj, Dr. Nirvan Basdeo, and my dear Dr. Hari Maharajh, who helped me get here and will forever live in my heart and memory. Finally, to my very loving, supportive, and fun family, Harry G. and Indra Parasram, Nalini and Ravi Rajballie, Aneela Mahabir and Aarav (the minion), and of course Vaani. Thank you all so much for your patience, love, and support. You are my light after the long night and my greatest blessings. I love you all very much. Thank you all.