Disconnects cell phones and wireless devices from cellular networks, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth to block remote wipe commands. Designing the Portable Software Environment
When responding to a live system, data must be collected based on how quickly it disappears from the machine:
Whether your lab is a $10,000 portable workstation or a repurposed laptop, the setup is critical. A well-organized lab ensures the integrity of the evidence (admissible in court) and the efficiency of the investigation.
| Term | Definition | |------|-------------| | Write-blocker | Device preventing writes to evidence drive | | Hash | Cryptographic digest verifying integrity | | Carving | Recovering files based on structure, not file system | | Slack space | Unused space between end of file and end of cluster | | Live forensics | Analyzing running system (RAM, processes) | | Dead forensics | Analyzing powered-off storage media | | E01 | Expert Witness Format (EnCase image) | | LNK file | Windows shortcut; shows recently accessed files | Disconnects cell phones and wireless devices from cellular
If you are evaluating a specific PDF manual, look for these critical chapters to ensure it is "solid" and relevant:
Securing evidence requires strict adherence to legal and procedural standards to withstand cross-examination in court. Chain of Custody Documentation
Cyber investigations are rarely confined to a lab setting. Investigators are often on-site at crime scenes, needing immediate access to forensic procedures. | Term | Definition | |------|-------------| | Write-blocker
The Complete Guide to Building a Portable Cyber Crime Investigation and Digital Forensics Lab
: A lightweight, standalone tool that creates bit-stream physical or logical images (E01 or RAW formats) and automatically computes MD5 and SHA-1 cryptographic hashes to verify data integrity.
Serves as high-speed destination media for writing forensic images and storing working databases. Faraday bags / RF shielding enclosures The Complete Guide to Building a Portable Cyber
If the system is powered off, or after RAM has been successfully captured, proceed with bit-stream imaging of the physical media.
Every transfer of evidence must be documented immediately. A portable manual log must record: Unique case number and item tracking IDs.
If a target system is powered on, do not shut it down immediately. Volatile memory contains encryption keys, active network connections, passwords, and running malware strains.