Guide to Computer Forensics and Investigations

This set of flashcards is designed to help students review key concepts from the lecture on digital forensics tools, covering evaluation, hardware and software options, validation, and practical applications.

What is the main focus of Chapter 6 in the Guide to Computer Forensics and Investigations?

Current Digital Forensics Tools.

What are the objectives outlined in the digital forensics tools lecture?

Evaluate needs for tools, describe software tools, list hardware considerations, validate and test tools.

What should be considered when evaluating digital forensics tools?

Features like OS compatibility, versatility, ability to analyze file systems, scripting capabilities, automation, and vendor support.

What are the two main types of digital forensics tools?

Hardware forensic tools and software forensic tools.

What is the purpose of software forensic tools?

To copy data from a suspect’s disk drive to an image file.

Which program provides guidelines for forensics tool testing?

NIST's Computer Forensics Tool Testing (CFTT) program.

What is the acquisition process in digital forensics?

Making a copy of the original drive.

What are the two types of data-copying methods in software acquisitions?

Physical copying and logical copying.

What is a typical feature of vendor acquisition tools?

Creating smaller segmented files.

How can data from live environments be acquired?

Using remote acquisition tools.

What is validation in digital forensics?

A way to confirm that a tool is functioning as intended.

What does verification in digital forensics entail?

Proving that two sets of data are identical by calculating hash values.

Name a subfunction of validation in forensic software.

Hashing.

What is the main challenge in data extraction during digital forensics?

Recovering data effectively.

What are subfunctions of data extraction?

Data viewing, keyword searching, decompressing, carving, decrypting, and tagging.

What methods can be used during the reconstruction phase?

Disk-to-disk copy, partition-to-partition copy, image-to-disk copy, disk-to-image copy.

What is the purpose of the reporting task in digital forensics?

To create a report for forensic disk analysis and examination.

What is a write-blocker?

A device that prevents data writes to a hard disk.

What types of write-blockers exist?

Software-enabled blockers and hardware options.

What should be considered when building a forensic workstation?

Flexibility, reliability, future expandability.

Why are GUI forensics tools advantageous?

Ease of use and simplification of digital forensics investigations.

What is a downside of using GUI forensics tools?

Excessive resource requirements and potential inconsistencies.

What should you always verify when using forensics tools?

Your results by using other similar tools.

What is the purpose of the National Software Reference Library (NSRL)?

To collect known hash values for software applications and OS files.

What is the reason to employ a disk editor as a validation protocol?

It is a reliable tool that can access raw data.

What types of forensic analysis can command-line tools perform?

Analyzing and extracting data from disks.

What is one example of a command-line tool used in forensics?

Norton DiskEdit.

What is the first step in analyzing investigation data?

Data extraction.

What does the term 'carving' refer to in the extraction process?

Rebuilding files from fragments of data.

What is the significance of hashing in forensics?

To verify integrity and confirm the identity of data.

What does NIST's Computer Forensics Tool Testing project manage?

Research on forensics tools.

What are some types of digital forensics tools available?

Software (command-line and GUI) and hardware (customized and commercial options).

What must you establish when validating forensic software?

Categories for forensics tools, requirements, and test methods.

What is a challenge associated with hardware tools in digital forensics?

Technology changes rapidly and hardware can fail.

What factors should you consider in your forensic workstation budget?

Expected running time, equipment failures, consultant fees.

What is a common feature of portable workstations?

Lightweight design for easy transport.

Which types of computers might you find in private corporation labs forensics?

Only system types used in the organization.

Why is it important to maintain a software library for forensics?

To keep older versions of tools and applications available for use.

What should you do if a forensic tool has issues after an upgrade?

Report the problem to the vendor and do not use the tool until fixed.

What is the goal of running a test hard disk for validation purposes?

To ensure the accuracy and reliability of forensic tools.

How should equipment forensics upgrades be approached?

Regularly check for updates, patches, and new tool editions.

What is the primary goal of a digital forensic investigation?

To recover and analyze evidence that can be admitted in court.

What is one common use of a brue-force attack in forensics?

Recovering encrypted files that cannot be accessed normally.

What are advantages of command-line tools in digital forensics?

Require fewer resources and can be highly effective in various environments.

Why should validation tests be run when upgrading forensic tools?

To detect potential issues and ensure continued reliability.