CyberCode Academy

Course 36 - Windows Forensics and Tools | Episode 1: Debunking Myths and Mastering Methodology

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In this lesson, you’ll learn about: digital forensics in Windows environments1. What is Digital Forensics?
  • Also known as computer forensics
  • The application of scientific methods to digital investigations
🔹 Core Objectives
  • Identify digital evidence
  • Preserve its integrity
  • Analyze findings
  • Present results for legal use
👉 Key Idea:
  • Evidence must be accurate, repeatable, and legally admissible
2. Why Focus on Windows?
  • Majority of systems run Windows
  • Widely used in:
    • Personal computing
    • Enterprise environments
🔹 Challenges
  • Undocumented internal features
  • Limited low-level access
  • Complex system structure
👉 Result:
  • Windows forensics requires specialized knowledge and tools
3. Investigation Methodology (SANS Framework)
  • Developed by the SANS Institute
🔹 The 8-Step ProcessStep 1: Initial Assessment
  • Confirm incident
  • Define scope
  • Identify affected systems
👉 Goal:
  • Understand what happened and where
Step 2: System Description
  • Document:
    • Hardware specs
    • OS configuration
    • Network role
👉 Importance:
  • Provides context for analysis
Step 3: Evidence Acquisition🔹 Types of Data
  • Volatile Data:
    • RAM
    • Running processes
    • Network connections
  • Non-Volatile Data:
    • Hard drives
    • Logs
    • Files
🔹 Critical Concepts
  • Chain of custody
  • Data integrity verification (hashing)
👉 Rule:
  • Never alter original evidence
Step 4: Timeline Analysis
  • Reconstruct system activity over time
👉 Helps answer:
  • When did the attack happen?
  • What actions were performed?
Step 5: Media Analysis
  • Examine:
    • File systems
    • Program execution
    • Deleted files
👉 Insight:
  • Reveals user and attacker behavior
Step 6: String & Byte Search
  • Search for:
    • Keywords
    • Signatures
    • Binary patterns
👉 Use Case:
  • Detect malware traces or hidden data
Step 7: Data Recovery
  • Recover data from:
    • Unallocated space
    • Slack space
👉 Importance:
  • Deleted ≠ gone
Step 8: Reporting
  • Create formal report
🔹 Must Include
  • Verified findings
  • Methods used
  • Evidence references
👉 Requirement:
  • Must be clear, objective, and defensible in court
4. Windows Artifacts (Key Evidence Sources)🔹 Common Artifacts
  • Registry
  • Prefetch files
  • Restore points
  • Recycle Bin
👉 What they reveal:
  • Program execution history
  • User activity
  • System changes
5. Cybersecurity Use Case🔹 When Digital Forensics is Used
  • Incident response
  • Malware analysis
  • Legal investigations
👉 Outcome:
  • Understand:
    • Attack methods
    • Impact
    • Responsible actions
Key Takeaways
  • Digital forensics applies scientific investigation to digital systems
  • Windows analysis is complex but essential
  • SANS methodology ensures structured and reliable investigations
  • Evidence handling must preserve integrity
  • Artifacts reveal hidden user and attacker activity
Big PictureDigital forensics helps you:👉 Move from incident → evidence → truthMental Model
  • Collect → Preserve → Analyze → Report


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CyberCode AcademyBy CyberCode Academy