CS 5330 : Network Security and Forensics

Principles and practices of network forensics. Introduction to network protocols; security and forensic components; and vulnerability and defense. Data formats, digital evidence provenance and image exchange. Forensics tools and techniques: live data forensics; database forensics; use of network logs and other datasets for incidence timelines, and subject/object associations. Prerequisite: Full Admission to MS in CS program or consent of department.

Course type: ELECTIVE

SPECIFIC COURSE GOALS

• I can compare and contrast tools used in network forensics and security applications.
• I can use certain tools (for example: network enabled forensics s/w agents; RAM analysis tools; others) to collect and analyze volatile and non-volatile data.
• I can provide technical arguments for the integrity of a certain piece of evidence.
• I can create a timeline of events and identify linkage b/w subjects and objects for synthetic and real datasets.
• I can articulate mechanisms for recovering encrypted datasets and creating process logs.
• I can explain the provenance of a piece of digital evidence.
• I can explain and process forensic datasets in a variety of formats.
• I can analyze relevant research and communicate my findings.

LIST OF TOPICS COVERED

• Overview (~8%)
  • Admissibility of digital evidence
  • Communication protocols
  • Network forensics and security
  • Relationship among components
• Data Formats (~14%)
  • Log files and cache
  • Image formats
  • Forensic file formats
  • Others
• Forensic Imagery (~14%)
  • Log process
  • Refinement and visualization
  • Integrity checks
• Network Security and Forensic Techniques (~21%)
  • Reconnaissance techniques
  • Protocol specifics
  • Port scans and dumps
  • Memory, non-volatile media, and web cache/traffic
• Tool Talk – Possible Candidates (~28%)
  • Port scan tools
  • nmap; Ether dump, SIFT
  • Autopsy
  • Recovery tools
  • Sleuth Kit, OSAF TIK
  • Encase (resource permitting)
• Recovery of protected data (~5%)
  • Encrypted media
  • Password cracking
• Reporting (~5%)
  • Elements & organization
• Platform-based Techniques (~5%)
  • Windows and Unix
  • IOS and Android