Windows Forensics Analyst Field Guide E-Book

Muhiballah Mohammed

• Herausgeber: Packt Publishing
• Kategorie: Fachliteratur
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 323

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

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.

Leseprobe

Windows Forensics Analyst Field Guide

Engage in proactive cyber defense using digital forensics techniques

Muhiballah Mohammed

BIRMINGHAM—MUMBAI

Windows Forensics Analyst Field Guide

Copyright © 2023 Packt Publishing

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In loving memory of my mother, whose love, support, and guidance have shaped me into the person I am today. I dedicate this book to you, Mom. You were my first teacher, my best friend, and my biggest fan. You taught me the importance of hard work, compassion, and kindness. You always believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. I miss you every day, but I know that you are always with me in spirit. This book is a small way for me to honor your memory and share your love with the world. I hope that it will inspire others to be the best versions of themselves, just like you taught me to be. Thank you for everything, Mom. I love you, always.

To my dearest wife, this book is dedicated to you, my love. It is a testament to your love, support, and belief in me. I could not have written this book without you. You have been my biggest supporter throughout this journey, from the early days of brainstorming to the final edits. I am so grateful for your love and support. You are my best friend, my partner in crime, and the love of my life.

I love you, always and forever.

Muhiballah Mohammed

Contributors

About the author

Muhiballah Mohammed is a cybersecurity expert and enthusiast, experienced in security operations centers, digital forensics, and incident response. With 10 years of experience, he has worked in a variety of roles in the cybersecurity field, including SOC analyst, consultant, and forensic investigator, and has helped build multiple entities’ SOC and DFIR teams. He has experience in investigating a wide range of cyber incidents.

Muhiballah is passionate about providing help to organizations so that they can protect themselves against cyber threats, and he is also a mentor and teacher to new students in the cybersecurity field. He loves sharing his knowledge and experience with others, and he is always looking for new ways to help people learn about cybersecurity.

I want to thank the people who have been close to me and supported me, especially my wife, my family, and my beloved SIC friends.

About the reviewers

Waleed Alanazi has a bachelor’s degree in information systems from the Islamic University of Madinah. He has over 5 years of experience in digital forensics, incident response, and malware hunting. He is a former Cisco employee. Waleed was the first-place winner of a 2018 government hackathon and the 2023 DFIR NetWars from the SANS Institute. Waleed’s areas of expertise include Windows forensics and incident response. He has had the privilege of working on incidents related to threat actors at the APT level. He can be found on Twitter at @D2Rz_, where he regularly shares his thoughts and insights on digital forensics and security.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my family and my friends, specifically, Muhiballah Mohammed, for giving me the opportunity to be a technical reviewer for this book. I hope that my contributions will help to make this book a valuable resource for the security community.

Mohammed El-Haddad is a seasoned cybersecurity professional with over a decade of experience in both cybersecurity and information technology. He possesses more than seven years of pure experience in cybersecurity operations center operations, management, incident response, and threat Intelligence. He is a results-driven leader who has successfully led and managed cross-functional teams of security professionals, ensuring the protection of critical assets and continuous improvement of security postures. Currently, he’s employed as a full-time CSOC manager.

I’d like to thank my family, mentors, managers, and colleagues for their support, guidance, and belief in me. I would also like to extend a special thanks to my father, mother, and beloved wife for their boundless love, unwavering support, and selfless sacrifices that have shaped my path in immeasurable ways, and I am forever thankful.

Table of Contents

Preface

Part 1:Windows OS Forensics and Lab Preparation

1

Introducing the Windows OS and Filesystems and Getting Prepared for the Labs

Technical requirements

What is a Microsoft OS?

The modern Windows OS and filesystems

Windows XP

Windows Vista

Windows 7, 8 and 8.1

Windows 10

Digital forensics and common terminology

What is digital forensics?

Digital forensic terminology

The process of digital forensics

Digital evidence

Windows VSS

Preparing a lab environment

Summary

Questions

2

Evidence Acquisition

Technical requirements

An overview of evidence acquisition for Windows OS

A forensic analyst’s jump bag (first responder kit)

Understanding the order of volatility

Acquisition tools for Windows OS

Using FTK Imager

Using KAPE

Additional tools

Evidence collection and acquisition exercise

Summary

3

Memory Forensics for the Windows OS

Technical requirements

Understanding memory forensics concepts and techniques

Some techniques to overcome the challenges

Why memory forensics is important

Exploring the main components of Windows

The kernel

Windows processes

Windows services

Device drivers

DLLs

The registry

The filesystem

Investigation methodology

Understanding Windows architecture

Looking at the memory acquisition tools

Using FTK Imager to capture memory

WinPmem

DumpIt

Belkasoft RAM Capturer

MAGNET RAM Capture

Using Volatility to analyze memory dumps and plugins

Volatility architecture

Volatility plugins

Volatility commands

Identifying the profile

The imageinfo plugin

The process list and tree

The netscan plugin

The hivescan and hivelist plugins

A brief overview of Volatility 3

Evidence collection and acquisition exercise

Summary

4

The Windows Registry

Technical requirements

Windows Registry fundamentals

Why do we care about the Windows Registry?

Components of the Windows Registry

Windows Registry hierarchy

Windows Registry hives

HKLM

HKCU

HKCR

Windows Registry data types

User registry hives

NTUSER.DAT

UsrClass.dat

Windows Registry acquisition and analysis

regedit.exe and reg.exe

powershell.exe

Windows Registry acquisition

Windows Registry analysis tools

Registry Explorer

RegRipper

Registry Viewer

RECmd.exe

Windows Registry forensic analysis exercises

Summary

5

User Profiling Using the Windows Registry

Profiling system details

Identifying the OS version

Identifying CurrentControlSet

Validating the computer name

Identifying time zones

Identifying services

Installed applications

The PrefetchParameters subkey

Network activities

Autostart registry keys

Profiling user activities

SAM registry hive

Domain and local user details

NTUSER.DAT

The RecentDocs key

The TypedPaths key

The TypedURLs subkey

User profiling using Windows Registry exercises

Summary

Part 2:Windows OS Additional Artifacts

6

Application Execution Artifacts

Technical requirements

Windows evidence of execution artifacts

Looking at the NTUSER.DAT, Amcache, and SYSTEM hives

Understanding and analyzing UserAssist

Background Activity Moderator (BAM)

Shimcache

Amcache.hve

RunMRU

LastVisitedPidlMRU

Windows Prefetch

Application execution artifact exercises

Summary

7

Forensic Analysis of USB Artifacts

Technical requirements

Overview of USB devices and types

Understanding stored evidence on USB devices

Analyzing USB artifacts

Identifying the USB device type, product, and vendor ID

Identifying the volume serial number

Identifying the volume name and letter

Using the USBDeview tool

Exploring a real-world scenario of identifying the root cause

USB artifacts analysis exercises

Summary

8

Forensic Analysis of Browser Artifacts

Technical requirements

Overview of browsers

Internet Explorer

Microsoft Edge

Google Chrome

Chrome artifacts

Firefox

Browser forensics exercises

Summary

9

Exploring Additional Artifacts

Technical requirements

Email forensic analysis

Types of phishing emails

Email header analysis

Analyzing Outlook emails

Event log analysis

Security event logs

Application event logs

Analyzing $MFT

MFTEcmd.exe

LNK file analysis

Recycle Bin analysis

ShellBags and jump lists

System Resource Utilization Monitor (SRUM)

Case study – analyzing malware infections

Analysis

Belksoft Live RAM Capturer

KAPE

Additional forensic artifacts exercises

Summary

Index

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Preface

In the ever-changing digital world, where information is constantly flowing and our lives are increasingly digitized, the need for strong digital forensics skills is more important than ever. Welcome to Windows Forensics Analyst Field Guide: Engage in proactive cyber defense using digital forensics techniques, a comprehensive guide that explores the complex world of Windows digital forensics.

The digital age has changed our lives in many ways. We now can connect with people all over the world, have access to information at our fingertips, and can be more productive than ever before. However, this digital revolution has also created new challenges. Cyber threats and data breaches are on the rise, and it is more important than ever to be able to protect our digital data.

One way to protect our digital data is to understand the digital footprints we leave behind. Every time we use a computer or smartphone, we create a trail of data that can be used to track us, identify us, and even steal our identity. By understanding these digital footprints, we can take steps to protect our privacy and security.

The ability to uncover, analyze, and interpret digital traces is a valuable skill in the digital age. This skill is known as digital forensics, and it is used by law enforcement, businesses, and individuals to investigate cybercrimes, data breaches, and other digital incidents.

Join us as we embark on this compelling journey through the heart of Windows forensics. Together, we will uncover the truth hidden within digital landscapes and uphold the principles of justice, security, and integrity in our digital age.

Who this book is for

This book is for anyone who wants to learn about Windows-based digital forensics. It covers everything from the basics of the Windows operating system to the latest techniques for investigating digital evidence.

The book starts by introducing the Windows architecture, filesystems, and registry. It then discusses how to collect and preserve digital evidence from Windows systems. The book also covers the different types of digital evidence that can be found on Windows systems, such as user activity, application artifacts, and network interactions.

The book is full of practical examples and exercises, so you can learn by doing. It also includes a glossary of terms and a list of resources for further learning.

Whether you are a novice or a seasoned investigator, this book will give you the skills and knowledge you need to conduct successful Windows-based digital forensics investigations.

What this book covers

Chapter 1, Introducing the Windows OS and Filesystems and Getting Prepared for the Labs, covers an introduction to Windows forensics and the Windows operating system. It will also cover the main aspects of the Windows operating system.

Chapter 2, Evidence Acquisition, covers powerful tools utilized in triaging Windows evidence, such as KAPE and FTK Imager. We will learn how to set up a proper evidence acquisition process and use the tools that we have at our disposal to preserve digital evidence.

Chapter 3, Memory Forensics for the Windows OS, discusses how volatile data is considered a gold mine for digital forensics. We will learn how to preserve volatile evidence and deep dive into forensic analysis using volatility.

Chapter 4, The Windows Registry, covers the Windows registry, which is a hierarchal database that holds hardware and software settings, user preferences, and more. We will learn about this amazing artifact and how to analyze it using open source tools.

Chapter 5, User Profiling Using the Windows Registry, covers profiling system details using the Windows registry, which is a fundamental technique in digital forensics and system analysis. Investigators can gain valuable insights into the system’s history, configuration, and user activities.

Chapter 6, Application Execution Artifacts, discusses how investigating execution evidence is considered a must in digital forensics and incident response. In this chapter, we dive into artifacts that play a pivotal role in investigations, helping forensic analysts reconstruct timelines, understand user interactions, and detect potential security incidents.

Chapter 7, Forensic Analysis of USB Artifacts, looks at USB devices, which are now essential tools for data storage and transfer. While their convenience is undeniable, their widespread use also poses challenges in the field of digital forensics. We will focus on tracking USB devices using multiple artifacts.

Chapter 8, Forensic Analysis of Browser Artifacts, discusses how as our lives become increasingly digital, web browsers have become the gateways to vast amounts of information, communication, and activity. We will cover multiple browsers and how to properly conduct an investigation.

Chapter 9, Exploring Additional Artifacts, provides an overview of additional artifacts that help forensic examiners to further examine an incident, such as the master file table and event logs. Our objective is to optimize the utilization of these resources.

To get the most out of this book

You will need a basic understanding of Windows operating system usage.

Software/hardware covered in the book

OS requirements

VMware Workstation

(latest version)

Windows

FTK Imager

Windows

Each chapter has a Technical requirements section that mentions the tools needed along with links to download them.

Conventions used

There are a number of text conventions used throughout this book.

Code in text: Indicates code words in text, database table names, folder names, filenames, file extensions, pathnames, dummy URLs, user input, and Twitter handles. Here is an example: “We discussed NTUSER.DAT, which is a registry hive containing information about user activity, including the execution of programs and the use of various applications.”

A block of code is set as follows:

kape.exe --tsource C:\ --tdest C:\ KAPE\output\ --target !BasicCollection,Symantec_AV_Logs,Chrome,ChromeExtensions, Edge,Firefox,InternetExplorer,WebBrowsers,ApacheAccessLog, $Boot,$J,$LogFile,$MFT,Amcache,ApplicationEvents,EventLogs, EventLogs-RDP,EventTraceLogs,EvidenceOfExecution,FileSystem, MOF,Prefetch,RDPCache,RDPLogs,RecentFileCache,Recycle,RecycleBin, RecycleBinContent,RecycleBinMetadata,RegistryHives, RegistryHivesSystem,RegistryHivesUser,ScheduledTasks,SRUM

Any command-line input or output is written as follows:

PECmd.exe  -d C:\Windows\Prefetch --csv C:\temp --csvf Prefetch.csv

Bold: Indicates a new term, an important word, or words that you see onscreen. For example, words in menus or dialog boxes appear in the text like this. Here is an example: “What we notice here is that the Values tab holds data encoded in ROT-13. By clicking on the UserAssist tab, we can get the same details in human-readable format; you can also use decoding tools to decode the value as needed if that is required.”

Tips or important notes

Appear like this.

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Part 1:Windows OS Forensics and Lab Preparation

In this part of the book, we will give an overview of the Windows operating system and learn how this amazing operating system works. In addition to this, you will learn the basics of the digital forensics process and how to set up a digital forensics lab environment and start acquiring evidence using open source tools. Also, we will dive into understanding the process of forensic acquisition and carry out a deep-dive analysis of collected artifacts in a forensic manner.

This part contains the following chapters:

Chapter 1, Introducing the Windows OS and Filesystems and Getting Prepared for the LabsChapter 2, Evidence AcquisitionChapter 3, Memory Forensics for the Windows OSChapter 4, The Windows RegistryChapter 5, User Profiling Using the Windows Registry

1

Introducing the Windows OS and Filesystems and Getting Prepared for the Labs

In our work and personal lives, we use multiple operating systems (OSs) on different devices, including our desktops, laptops, and smartphones, on a daily basis. To understand more about this concept, we will cover in-depth knowledge about what an OS is and then focus on the Windows OS, which is the most popular OS by far for personal and corporate needs.

In the world of technology, Windows has become the leading OS for PCs and other devices. Thus, having a comprehensive understanding of this OS and the insights it can provide during digital forensic investigations is crucial. This chapter aims to provide an overview of the fundamental concepts of digital forensics and incident response in the context of Windows OS. Moreover, the chapter also explores the concept of Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) and its significance in digital forensics. VSS is a crucial feature of Windows OSs that enables the creation of shadow copies of files and folders at a particular point in time. As a result, VSS serves as an essential source of information for forensic investigators, allowing them to reconstruct events and gather evidence from a particular moment in time.

Understanding the basic concept of OSs will significantly aid in gaining knowledge of what we are investigating as forensic examiners and what value we get from these artifacts.

In this chapter, we will cover the following topics:

What is a Microsoft OS?The modern Windows OS and filesystemsDigital forensics and common terminologyWindows VSSPreparing a lab environment

Technical requirements

In this chapter, we are going to prepare our environment for labs, so we need to be able to install a trial version of VMware or Oracle VirtualBox and an ISO file for Windows 10.

VMware is available here: https://www.vmware.com/mena/products/workstation-pro/workstation-pro-evaluation.html.

VirtualBox is available here: https://www.oracle.com/sa/virtualization/technologies/vm/downloads/virtualbox-downloads.html.

The Windows OS ISO is available here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10.

Important note

For lab preparation, if you are proceeding with the VMware product, please use the free 30-day trial or a legitimate product key.

What is a Microsoft OS?

As a forensic examiner, understanding the concept of an OS is crucial. Microsoft announced Windows for the first time on November 10, 1983, as a graphical user interface (GUI) that provided users with a friendly interface and layer to interact with the command-line-based MS-DOS code that was released previously. This started a new era for user interfaces and made it easy for people who did not know how to interact with a disk operating system (DOS) to work and learn with computers.

According to the latest articles and research, a Windows OS is installed on almost 76% of devices across the globe (desktop and laptop). The desktop OS market share is illustrated in Figure 1.1:

Figure 1.1 – Desktop OS market share

As we can see in the preceding chart, Microsoft OSs dominate the market for desktops and laptops. Microsoft developed multiple versions of the Windows OS including Windows NT, Windows NT 3.1, and most famously, Windows XP, to name a few.

We now know that the Windows OS is one of the most widely used OSs in the world, providing an interface between the user and the computer hardware. The main components of the Windows OS are the kernel, drivers, system utilities, and user-mode components. In this part of the book, we will take a closer look at each of these components and their roles in how the Windows OS functions:

Kernel: The kernel is the core component of a Windows OS. It is responsible for managing the system’s resources, such as memory, process scheduling, and input/output operations. The kernel also provides an interface between the user-mode components and the hardware. The Windows OS uses a hybrid kernel that combines the features of a microkernel and a monolithic kernel. The microkernel approach provides a small, secure, and stable kernel that is responsible for managing the basic system resources. The monolithic kernel approach provides a single, large, and complex kernel that is responsible for managing both basic system resources and more advanced features, such as device drivers.Drivers: Drivers are software components that allow an OS to interact with a computer’s hardware. They act as intermediaries between the OS and the hardware, translating the requests from the OS into instructions that the hardware can understand. A Windows OS includes a wide range of drivers, including device drivers, filesystem drivers, and network drivers.System utilities: System utilities are software components that provide basic functionality to an OS. They are responsible for tasks such as disk defragmentation, disk cleanup, and system backup and restore. Some of the most commonly used system utilities in a Windows OS include Task Manager, Control Panel, and File Explorer.User-mode components: User-mode components are software components that provide a user interface to an OS. They allow users to interact with the OS and perform tasks such as creating, editing, and deleting files, launching applications, and accessing system settings. Some of the most commonly used user-mode components in the Windows OS include the Start menu, the desktop, and the taskbar.Security component: A Windows OS plays a critical role in protecting a user’s data and the system itself from various threats such as viruses, malware, and hacking attacks. There are several security components and functionalities in the Windows OS that work together to provide a secure environment for users, such as the following:User Account Control (UAC): UAC is a feature in Windows OSs that helps prevent users from making unauthorized changes to the system by requiring them to enter their credentials beforehand. This helps prevent malicious software from making unauthorized changes to the system, such as installing malware or modifying system settings.Windows Defender: Windows Defender is a built-in antivirus software that provides real-time protection against malware and other threats. It uses a combination of signature-based detection and heuristics-based detection to identify and remove malware, and it also provides regular updates to keep its threat definitions up-to-date.Windows Firewall: The Windows Firewall is a network security system that helps protect a system from unauthorized access by controlling incoming and outgoing network traffic. It provides a range of configuration options, including the ability to block incoming traffic, allow outgoing traffic, and create rules to allow or block specific traffic.BitLocker: BitLocker is a full-disk encryption feature that helps protect user data by encrypting an entire hard drive. It provides a secure environment for sensitive data and helps prevent unauthorized access to data if a system is lost or stolen. This is one of the challenges we face as forensic investigators; if an acquired image is encrypted, then a decryption key is needed to perform memory forensics.Security Accounts Manager (SAM): SAM is a component of a Windows OS that manages user accounts and security policies. It is responsible for maintaining a database of user accounts and their associated security policies, such as password policies, account lockout policies, and access control lists.Internet Explorer Security: Internet Explorer is the default web browser in a Windows OS, and it includes several security features to help protect users while browsing the web. These features include security zones, which allow users to specify the level of security for different websites, and ActiveX controls, which help prevent malicious software from being installed on the system.SmartScreen Filter: SmartScreen Filter is a feature in a Windows OS that helps protect users from downloading and running malicious software by analyzing the contents of downloaded files and warning the user if the software is known to be malicious.Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI): WMI is a set of tools and technologies that allow you to manage Windows-based computers. WMI can be used to automate administrative tasks, collect data about computers, and monitor computer health.

In addition to these main components, a Windows OS also includes a number of additional features and components such as the registry, the filesystem, and the security model. The registry is a database that stores information about the system configuration and the installed applications. The filesystem is responsible for organizing and managing files and directories on a computer’s hard drive. The security model is responsible for enforcing the system’s security policies and controlling access to the system’s resources.

One of the key strengths of a Windows OS is its compatibility with a wide range of hardware and software. This is achieved through the use of device drivers, which allow the OS to interact with a wide range of hardware devices such as printers, scanners, and digital cameras. The Windows OS also includes support for a wide range of filesystems, including New Technology File System (NTFS), File Allocation Table (FAT), Extensible File Allocation Table (exFAT), and Resilient File System (ReFS), making it easy for users to access their files and data on different types of storage media.

Another important feature of a Windows OS is its user-friendly interface. The OS includes a range of GUI elements such as icons, windows, and menus that make it easy for users to navigate and interact with the system. The Start menu provides a central location to access system utilities and installed applications, while the desktop provides a convenient workspace for performing tasks and accessing files and folders.

Understanding the Windows OS and its filesystem is crucial for forensic investigators. With the knowledge gained from this chapter, investigators will be able to effectively collect and analyze digital evidence.

In the next main section, we will delve into the history of the Windows OS, exploring its various versions and features and how they have evolved over time. This knowledge will provide a solid foundation for understanding the inner workings of the OS, which is essential for conducting thorough digital investigations.

The modern Windows OS and filesystems

In this section, we will cover multiple OSs introduced by Microsoft, as previously mentioned.

Windows XP

Windows XP is a widely used and well-known OS developed by Microsoft Corporation. It was first released on August 24, 2001, and was available in both Home and Professional editions. Windows XP was the successor to the popular Windows 98 and Windows 2000 OSs and was the first OS to feature the now-iconic Windows Start button and taskbar.

One of the most significant changes in Windows XP was its user interface. The new user interface was designed to be more user friendly and intuitive, making it easier for users to access and use their applications and files. The new interface included a Start button and taskbar that allowed users to quickly access their applications and files without having to navigate through complex menus. The Start menu was also redesigned to be more efficient and organized, with the ability to be customized by adding and removing items.

A significant additional feature of Windows XP was its improved support for hardware and software. Windows XP was designed to work well with new hardware technologies such as USB devices, digital cameras, and other multimedia devices. It also supported new software technologies such as .NET Framework, which allowed developers to create more powerful and sophisticated applications.

One more major change in Windows XP was its security features. Windows XP was designed to be more secure than previous versions of Windows, with improved support for firewalls, encryption, and other security features. It also included a built-in antivirus software called Windows Defender that helped protect users from malware and other security threats.

Another key feature of Windows XP was its networking capabilities. Windows XP was designed to be a more reliable and efficient network OS, making it easier for users to connect to the internet, networks, and other devices. It also included improved support for wireless networks, allowing users to easily connect to Wi-Fi networks and other wireless devices.

One of the most popular features of Windows XP was its multimedia capabilities. Windows XP was designed to be a more multimedia-friendly OS, with improved support for digital music and video, digital cameras, and other multimedia devices. It also included Windows Media Player, which allowed users to play music and videos, and Windows Movie Maker, which allowed users to create and edit their own videos.

Windows XP was also designed to be a more stable and reliable OS, with improved support for hardware and software. It included a number of performance improvements, such as faster boot times and improved system resource management, which helped make the OS more responsive and efficient.

Despite its many features and improvements, Windows XP was not without its flaws. Some users reported compatibility issues with older hardware and software, and the OS was also criticized for its security vulnerabilities, which were exploited by hackers and malware authors.

Despite these issues, Windows XP remained a popular OS for many years, with millions of users around the world relying on it for their daily computing needs. Microsoft continued to release updates and security patches for Windows XP, helping to address its security vulnerabilities and improve its performance.

We can say that Windows XP was a major milestone in the history of OSs, and its impact on the computing industry is still felt today. Its user friendly interface, improved hardware and software support, and multimedia capabilities helped make it one of the most widely used and well-loved OSs of all time. Although it has since been replaced by newer and more advanced OSs, Windows XP remains an important part of the computing world, and its legacy will continue to influence the future of OSs for years to come.

Windows Vista

Windows Vista, also known as Windows NT 6.0, was an advanced OS developed by Microsoft Corporation and released on January 30, 2007. It aimed to enhance the user experience, support newer hardware and software technologies, improve security and networking capabilities, and provide multimedia-friendly features to users.

One of the major changes in Windows Vista was its visually appealing user interface, which included the new Aero style with transparency and other visual effects. Additionally, Windows Vista improved support for new hardware and software technologies such as high-definition displays, multi-core processors, and the .NET Framework.

Moreover, Windows Vista was designed to be more secure than its predecessors, with enhanced support for firewalls, encryption, and security features such as UAC. UAC was a security feature introduced in Windows Vista. It was designed to help prevent unauthorized changes to the system by requiring user approval for any action that could potentially affect the system’s configuration or security.

It also boasted efficient networking capabilities, making it easier for users to connect to the internet, networks, and wireless devices.

Furthermore, Windows Vista was a more multimedia-friendly OS, with improved support for digital music, videos, cameras, and other multimedia devices. It included Windows Media Player and Windows Movie Maker, which enabled users to play and edit music and videos.

Despite its many features and improvements, Windows Vista was not without its flaws. Some users reported compatibility issues with older hardware and software, and the OS was also criticized for its performance and resource requirements that were often higher than those of its predecessor, Windows XP.

Despite these issues, Windows Vista remained a popular OS for many years, with millions of users around the world relying on it for their daily computing needs. Microsoft continued to release updates and security patches for Windows Vista, helping to address its performance and security issues.

It was an important milestone in the history of OSs, and its impact on the computing industry is still felt today. Its user friendly interface, improved hardware and software support, and multimedia capabilities helped make it one of the most advanced and sophisticated OSs of its time. Although it has since been replaced by newer and more advanced OSs, Windows Vista remains an important part of the computing world, and its legacy will continue to influence the future of OSs for years to come.

Windows 7, 8 and 8.1

Windows 7 was a widely used OS developed by Microsoft Corporation, and it was released to the public on October 22, 2009. Windows 7 was designed to be an improvement on its predecessor, Windows Vista, with a number of new features and improvements designed to make it easier and more efficient to use.

One of the most significant changes in Windows 7 was its improved performance. Windows 7 was designed to be faster and more responsive than Windows Vista, with a more streamlined and efficient design. This improved performance was achieved through a number of changes, including the use of a new filesystem, improved memory management, better support for hardware and software, and an improved user interface. Windows 7 was designed to be more user friendly and intuitive than Windows Vista, with a more refined and polished look and feel. The new interface included a new taskbar that made it easier to switch between applications and access frequently used files and folders. Moreover, Microsoft enhanced security on Windows 7; it was designed to be more secure than Windows Vista, with improved support for firewalls, encryption, and other security features, which helped protect users from malicious software and other security threats by requiring them to confirm any actions that could potentially harm the system.

One of the most popular features of Windows 7 was its improved networking capabilities. Windows 7 was designed to be a more reliable and efficient network OS, making it easier for users to connect to the internet, networks, and other devices. It also included improved support for wireless networks, allowing users to easily connect to Wi-Fi networks and other wireless devices.

Another key feature of Windows 7 was its multimedia capabilities. Windows 7 was designed to be a more multimedia-friendly OS, with improved support for digital music and video, digital cameras, and other multimedia devices. It also included Windows Media Player, which allowed users to play music and videos, and Windows Movie Maker, which allowed users to create and edit their own videos.

Windows 7 also had important implications for forensic investigations. The OS created various forensic artifacts including registry hives, system files, and event logs, which could be used by forensic investigators to uncover valuable information and evidence. By examining these artifacts, forensic investigators could gain insights into a user’s activities, identify any malicious software or security threats, and recover lost or deleted data.

The Windows 8 and 8.1 versions were released on October 26, 2012, with significant changes, including a Metro-designed user interface and optimization of touch-based devices such as tablets, also start screen that display all of the app as titles, and more.

Windows 10

Windows 10 was introduced to users on September 30, 2014. This was one of the best OSs and received positive feedback from end users, and it brought back a desktop-oriented interface. It also introduced multiple system security features such as multi-factor authentication (MFA).

This was a brief and general discussion about Windows OSs. We will not cover all aspects and features of OSs; however, you can check out Microsoft’s documentation for further details.

Important note

In this book, we will focus on Windows 10 artifacts; however, the same analysis steps can be applied to artifacts of previous Windows OS versions.

Figure 1.2 shows the start menu and apps in the GUI of Windows 10.

Figure 1.2 – Windows 10 interface and Start menu

In the upcoming section, we will delve into the world of digital forensics and explore why this field is crucial for investigating and analyzing digital evidence.

Digital forensics and common terminology

In this section, we will delve into the basics of digital forensics by discussing the common terminology, types of investigations, and the overall process involved. This will deepen your understanding of a digital forensics life cycle and offer insights into each stage of the process. We will also take a closer look at how typical casework is carried out.

What is digital forensics?

Digital forensics, also known as computer forensics, is the branch of forensic science that deals with the preservation, collection, examination, and analysis of electronic data to investigate digital-related crimes and incidents. The goal of digital forensics is to uncover and recover evidence from digital devices such as computers, smartphones, and other electronic devices, and use this evidence in criminal and civil investigations.

Digital forensics is a multidisciplinary field that draws on expertise from various areas such as computer science, information technology, and law enforcement. Digital forensics experts use a variety of tools and techniques to perform their investigations including data acquisition, data analysis, and data visualization. They must be familiar with a wide range of OSs, software applications, and file formats, and must be able to navigate the intricacies of digital data storage and retrieval.

Digital forensics