Book Image

Windows Forensics Analyst Field Guide

By : Muhiballah Mohammed
5 (1)
Book Image

Windows Forensics Analyst Field Guide

5 (1)
By: Muhiballah Mohammed

Overview of this book

In this digitally driven era, safeguarding against relentless cyber threats is non-negotiable. This guide will enable you to enhance your skills as a digital forensic examiner by introducing you to cyber challenges that besiege modern entities. It will help you to understand the indispensable role adept digital forensic experts play in preventing these threats and equip you with proactive tools to defend against ever-evolving cyber onslaughts. The book begins by unveiling the intricacies of Windows operating systems and their foundational forensic artifacts, helping you master the art of streamlined investigative processes. From harnessing opensource tools for artifact collection to delving into advanced analysis, you’ll develop the skills needed to excel as a seasoned forensic examiner. As you advance, you’ll be able to effortlessly amass and dissect evidence to pinpoint the crux of issues. You’ll also delve into memory forensics tailored for Windows OS, decipher patterns within user data, and log and untangle intricate artifacts such as emails and browser data. By the end of this book, you’ll be able to robustly counter computer intrusions and breaches, untangle digital complexities with unwavering assurance, and stride confidently in the realm of digital forensics.
Table of Contents (14 chapters)
1
Part 1:Windows OS Forensics and Lab Preparation
7
Part 2:Windows OS Additional Artifacts

Understanding the order of volatility

When it comes to digital forensics, understanding the order of volatility is essential. This concept is especially important when dealing with Windows forensic evidence. The order of volatility refers to the order in which data is lost from a computer system when it is powered off or shut down. It is important to understand this concept to properly analyze and interpret Windows forensic evidence.

The order of volatility can be broken down into two categories, as follows:

  • Volatile data: Volatile data is the most ephemeral and will be lost first when a system is powered off or shut down. This includes data stored in RAM, such as running processes, open files, and network connections.
  • Non-volatile data: Non-volatile data includes information stored on hard drives or other storage media that may remain intact after a system has been powered off or shut down. This includes information such as filesystem metadata, registry entries, user...