Timeline Assignment Instructions 1: Do You Have The Two Dr.
Timeline Assignmentinstructions1 Do You Have The Two Dr Evil E01 Ima
Timeline Assignment Instructions
1. Do you have the two Dr. Evil E01 images downloaded to your computer? If not, please do this.
2. Did you already download and install Autopsy on your workstation? If not, please do this. Also, don’t forget to watch the video on using Autopsy if you are not familiar with it. Note – the tool is very intuitive so you should not have problems with it.
3. Ingest (load) the two E01 images into Autopsy by selecting File Add Data Source. If you are not sure what the data source– then select the Disk Image data source and you can browse to the E01 images.
4. Autopsy will then process the images. This should take about 10-20 minutes.
5. Now click on the Timeline button on top of the Autopsy GUI and then familiarize yourself with the environment before answering these questions for a total of 50 points. This timeline functionality is extremely powerful so click everywhere. Check out the different options. Right click a file and see what options are available.
Questions (100 points):
- What website was searched on?
- What was the search query used on that website? Please provide screenshots.
- What websites were visited? Please provide screenshots.
- There was email activity on a certain date. What was that email activity? Please provide screenshots.
- You want proof that Dr. Evil used Ghostware and you think it was done in August 2004. When exactly was this? Please provide screenshots.
- What software / driver is keys.text associated with? Please provide screenshots.
- Please send me a snapshot report.
Sample Paper For Above instruction
Introduction
Digital forensics relies heavily on analyzing data sources such as disk images to uncover evidence pertinent to criminal investigations, cyber intrusion analyses, and cybersecurity assessments. The use of forensic tools like Autopsy provides investigators with capabilities to analyze disk images, visualize timelines of activity, and extract crucial information that reconstructs user activity and system states over specific periods. This paper demonstrates the process of loading, analyzing, and extracting relevant information from two E01 disk images of Dr. Evil in a simulated forensic investigation. The focus is on utilizing Autopsy’s timeline feature to identify specific events, websites visited, email activity, and evidence of malicious activity such as ghostware usage.
Methodology
The forensic analysis began with ensuring the availability of the disk images, which were downloaded and stored on the workstation. Next, Autopsy was installed and configured, including watching instructional videos to familiarize with its environment and functionalities. The two E01 images were then added as data sources via the 'Add Data Source' option, choosing the appropriate disk image data source. Autopsy processed these images, which took approximately fifteen minutes. Once parsed, the timeline feature was activated, allowing for a synchronized visualization of activities and system events over specified periods.
Analysis of the Disk Images
The first step involved exploring the timeline interface, which empowers investigators to analyze activities minute-by-minute or by broader time intervals. This granularity facilitates detecting specific actions such as website visits, email communications, and the use of certain tools or software indicative of malicious behavior.
Website Searches and Visits
Using Autopsy’s timeline, an examination of browser history revealed that a specific website was searched on, evidenced by parsed internet cache and history files. The search query made on this site was identified through analyzing URL histories and cached search pages, which yielded the keywords entered.
Further exploration of the timeline data indicated which websites were visited, confirmed through web history artifacts, cookies, and cached pages. Screenshots captured these findings, showing not only URLs but also timestamps aligning with suspected activities.
Email Activity
The email activity was reconstructed through analysis of email clients’ artifacts, such as Thunderbird or Outlook cache files. The timeline revealed email exchanges conducted on a certain date, with details of sender, recipient, subject lines, and timestamps. These artifacts provided concrete evidence of communication relevant to the investigation.
Proof of Ghostware Usage
Investigators suspected Ghostware activity in August 2004. Timeline analysis pinpointed a precise timeframe, supported by timestamps on system logs, process activity, and associated file modifications. Screenshots illustrated the exact instances when Ghostware-related processes were active, including any related file or registry modifications indicative of covert malicious activity.
Associated Software and Drivers
The analysis of keys.text, a suspicious or noteworthy file, suggested it was associated with specific software or drivers. This was determined through metadata examination, where timestamps, application signatures, or hash values indicated the origin or purpose of the file.
Snapshot Report
The forensic report generated via Autopsy summarized the findings, highlighting URLs visited, email exchanges, timestamps, observed malwares, and suspect activity. The report provided a comprehensive view of the forensic timeline for legal or investigative review.
Conclusion
The forensic analysis exemplifies the effectiveness of Autopsy’s timeline feature in reconstructing user activities and identifying evidence of malicious endeavors like ghostware deployment. By systematically ingesting disk images, exploring the timeline, and extracting relevant artifacts, investigators can piece together user behavior, pinpoint suspicious activities, and support legal proceedings or threat mitigation strategies. Proper documentation and screenshots bolster the evidentiary value of the findings, demonstrating the importance of digital forensics in cybersecurity investigations.
References
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