Business Use Paladin Assignment Scenario You Are Given A PC

Business Usepaladin Assignmentscenarioyou Are Given A Pc And You Are

Scenario: You are given a PC with no known password, preventing login. You need to use forensic tools like FTK Imager to capture the entire hard drive as a bit-for-bit image. Challenges include hard drives that are soldered onto the motherboard or cannot be removed due to stripped screws, GPO policies blocking USB ports, and concerns about network security when dealing with malware. The best approach is to boot the PC into a forensically sound environment that bypasses password and policy restrictions, such as Paladin. You will need to install Paladin, create a bootable USB with Rufus, and then boot into Paladin to perform imaging. The instructions involve downloading Rufus and Paladin ISO files, creating a bootable USB, configuring BIOS boot options, and running Paladin in forensic mode to create the image. Success criteria include submitting screenshots showing the installation of Paladin with Rufus, booting into Paladin, and creating the forensic image, to earn points.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

The process of creating a forensic image of a hard drive connected to a PC without prior knowledge of the password and with potential security restrictions is essential in digital forensic investigations. Utilizing tools like Paladin, a specialized forensic environment, allows investigators to bypass typical security measures and obtain an untouched copy of the storage device for analysis. This paper discusses the step-by-step methodology for setting up Paladin on a USB drive, booting into a forensic environment, and creating a complete bit-for-bit image of the target hard drive, highlighting best practices and technical considerations.

Introduction

In digital forensics, the ability to acquire an exact copy of a seized computer’s hard drive is fundamental for maintaining the integrity and admissibility of evidence. When confronting a locked PC where the user password is unknown, and physical disassembly is impractical or impossible, forensic boot environments such as Paladin become invaluable. Paladin is a pre-boot forensic platform that enables investigators to bypass operating system restrictions and access disk data directly, making it an ideal tool for forensic imaging. The process involves creating a bootable USB device with Paladin using Rufus, configuring BIOS settings to boot from USB, and then performing the imaging procedure in a forensically sound manner.

Creating a Bootable Paladin USB Drive

The first step involves downloading the necessary tools and files. Rufus, a free utility, is used to prepare the USB drive. The Paladin ISO image must be downloaded from the official website. After ensuring the USB device has sufficient storage capacity, Rufus is launched to create a bootable drive. Users select the Paladin ISO in Rufus, choose the correct USB drive, and initiate the process to make the device bootable. This step requires exploration and familiarity with Rufus settings; investigators are encouraged to consult online tutorials or videos for troubleshooting and best practices.

Booting into the Paladin Forensic Environment

Once the bootable USB is prepared, it must be inserted into the target PC. To boot from the USB, the computer’s BIOS settings need adjustment—this often involves pressing F9, F12, or another key during startup to access boot options. The user must select the USB drive as the primary boot device. If the system displays an “Operating System Not Found” error, alternate steps such as using Paladin Edge or verifying BIOS configurations are necessary. Upon successful boot, the user will see the Paladin startup menu, from which “Forensic Mode” should be selected. This environment ensures that the system runs in a read-only, forensically sound mode suitable for imaging.

Creating the Forensic Image using Paladin

In Paladin, the Toolbox is launched to access various forensic utilities. For larger drives, connecting an external USB drive or additional storage is recommended. The Disk Manager utility allows mounting the connected drive, which must be set to Mounted-RW (read-write) mode to facilitate imaging. Then, FTK Imager or equivalent tools embedded within Paladin are used to select the source drive. The preferred image format is DD/Raw for complete integrity. The destination should be set to an external USB device with enough capacity. The process includes verifying the image after creation, which ensures data integrity. The imaging process can take considerable time depending on disk size—minimum 30 minutes is typical.

Reporting and Documentation

Throughout the process, screenshots are vital for documentation. The investigator must capture:

- The installation of Paladin onto the USB device using Rufus.

- Successful boot into Paladin from the USB.

- The creation of the forensic image, showing source and destination settings, and verification.

These screenshots serve as proof of methodology and are critical for legal admissibility. Proper documentation ensures reproducibility and accountability in forensic procedures.

Conclusion

In summary, utilizing Paladin as a bootable forensic environment offers a robust method for imaging hard drives securely when direct access is restricted. The key steps include creating a bootable USB with Rufus, modifying BIOS settings to boot from USB, entering Paladin's forensic mode, mounting the target drive, and generating a verified forensic image. This process preserves digital evidence in an admissible form, ensuring that investigations maintain integrity and reliability. Mastery of these steps prepares forensic investigators to handle complex scenarios where traditional access methods are unavailable, reinforcing the importance of technical proficiency in digital forensics.

References

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• Rogers, M. K., & Seigfried-Spellar, K. C. (2019). Digital Forensics: Fundamentals & Procedures. CRC Press.
• Jansen, W., & Ayers, E. (2010). Principles of Digital Evidence. CRC Press.
• Paladin Forensic Suite. (n.d.). Official website. https://paladinforall.com
• Rufus Download Page. (n.d.). https://rufus.ie
• McKemmish, R. (2005). The Evidence File: An Introduction to Digital Evidence. Australian Law Reform Commission.
• Nelson, B., Phillips, A., & Steuart, C. (2020). Guide to Computer Forensics and Investigations. Cengage Learning.
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• Stevens, M., & Guymon, R. (2018). Forensic Analysis of Windows Systems. Pearson.