What are the different acquisition tools in forensics?

�         Remote network acquisition tools require installing a remote agent on the suspect�s computer. The remote agent can be detected if suspects install their own security programs, such as a firewall.

During the 1980s, most digital forensic investigations consisted of "live analysis", examining digital media directly using non-specialist tools. In the 1990s, several freeware and other proprietary tools (both hardware and software) were created to allow investigations to take place without modifying media. This first set of tools mainly focused on computer forensics, although in recent years similar tools have evolved for the field of mobile device forensics. This list includes notable examples of digital forensic tools.

Forensics-focused operating systems[edit]

Debian-based[edit]

  • Kali Linux is a Debian-derived Linux distribution designed for digital forensics and penetration testing, formerly known as BackTrack.
  • Parrot Security OS is a cloud-oriented Linux distribution based on Debian and designed to perform security and penetration tests, do forensic analysis, or act in anonymity. It uses the MATE Desktop Environment, Linux Kernel 4.6 or higher and it is available as a live lightweight installable ISO image for 32-bit, 64-bit and ARM processors with forensic options at boot, optimizations for programmers, and new custom pentesting tools.[citation needed]

Ubuntu-based[edit]

  • CAINE Linux is an ubuntu-based live CD/DVD. CAINE stands for Computer Aided INvestigative Environment.

Pentoo-based[edit]

  • Pentoo Penetration Testing Overlay and Livecd is a live CD and Live USB designed for penetration testing and security assessment. Based on Gentoo Linux, Pentoo is provided both as 32-bit and 64-bit installable live CD. Pentoo also is available as an overlay for an existing Gentoo installation. It features packet injection patched wifi drivers, GPGPU cracking software, and many tools for penetration testing and security assessment. The Pentoo kernel includes grsecurity and PAX hardening and extra patches – with binaries compiled from a hardened toolchain with the latest nightly versions of some tools available.

Computer forensics[edit]

Memory forensics[edit]

Memory forensics tools are used to acquire or analyze a computer's volatile memory (RAM). They are often used in incident response situations to preserve evidence in memory that would be lost when a system is shut down, and to quickly detect stealthy malware by directly examining the operating system and other running software in memory.

Mobile device forensics[edit]

Mobile forensics tools tend to consist of both a hardware and software component. Mobile phones come with a diverse range of connectors, the hardware devices support a number of different cables and perform the same role as a write blocker in computer devices.

NamePlatformLicenseVersionDescriptionCellebrite UFEDWindowsproprietaryHardware/software package, specializes in mobile forensic extractionMagnet AXIOMWindowsproprietary6.XMagnet AXIOM can recover and analyze digital evidence from the most sources, including iOS and Android devices, all in one case file.MicroSystemation XRY/XACTWindowsproprietaryHardware/software package, specializes in deleted dataOxygen Forensic® DetectiveWindowsproprietary14.3Oxygen Forensic® Detective is an all-in-one forensic software platform built to extract, decode, and analyze data from multiple digital sources: mobile and IoT devices, device backups, UICC and media cards, drones, and cloud services.

Software forensics[edit]

Software forensics is the science of analyzing software source code or binary code to determine whether intellectual property infringement or theft occurred. It is the centerpiece of lawsuits, trials, and settlements when companies are in dispute over issues involving software patents, copyrights, and trade secrets. Software forensics tools can compare code to determine correlation, a measure that can be used to guide a software forensics expert.

Forensic is an application where investigation and analysis techniques are used to assemble and preserve the evidence that is found from a specific computing electronic equipment in such a way that they are suitable for presenting in a court of law. The main objective of computer forensics is to study a well-structured subject of the investigation while detailing a documented analysis sequence of evidence or proofs to figure out what has occurred on an electronic device and the persons who are responsible for it.

Generally, Forensic investigators usually follow a quality set of procedural rules like after physically isolating the electronic equipment in question is to make sure it should not be by chance corrupted, investigators make sure that a digital duplicate shared copy of that device is stored. Once the first media has been derived, it’s fast in a very safe or alternative secure facility to keep up its pristine condition. All Forensic investigation is finished on the digital copy.

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Top 10 Types of Forensic Tools

To point out all the hidden private details that area unit has left when or throughout an occurrence, then the forensics is employed. The aim of forensics methods is to look, preserve, and analyze the data in a very detailed form on a computer system to seek out a potential proof for an attempt.

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What are the different acquisition tools in forensics?
What are the different acquisition tools in forensics?
What are the different acquisition tools in forensics?
What are the different acquisition tools in forensics?

What are the different acquisition tools in forensics?
What are the different acquisition tools in forensics?
What are the different acquisition tools in forensics?
What are the different acquisition tools in forensics?

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Below are a few best Forensic tools that are promising in today’s era:

1. SANS SIFT

SANS Investigative Forensic Toolkit (SIFT) is a Toolkit that is based on Ubuntu Server Live CD that contains a complete set of tools in which you wish to perform a rigorous forensic cybercrime or any incident responsive inquiry. This is a free available SIFT forensic toolkit that is similar to any advanced incident inquiry and a tool that suite is also an additional feature in the course of SANS’ Advanced Incident Response. It signifies that effective investigations and acknowledging to the intrusions is the only way to accomplish the cutting-edge and open-source-system tool that is easily out there and are often updated.

Features of SIFT are:

  • Effective Memory Utilization
  • Advanced tools and techniques
  • 64-bit system
  • Compatible to both Linux and Windows.

2. ProDiscover Forensic

It is one of the most significant Forensic Tool that will enable the computer to locate the data on the computer’s Hard Disk and will also protect the evidence it found and generate good quality of analyzed results for any legal procedures.

This tool also recovers the deleted files, checks the space in the device, dynamically allows search in the disks. This tool reads the data from a disk at a sector level, so no data loss happens in any critical incidents.

Features of ProDiscover Forensic:

  • It uses Perl Scripts to automate the forensic searches.
  • Reads the data from disk.
  • No data loss happens in critical issues.
  • Fetches the data even if it is deleted or hidden without effecting the files’ Metadata.

3. Volatility Framework

Volatility Framework was publicly released at BlackHat, and by the academic research Centre, it is an advanced memory analysis. It also gives a unique structure that will enable to cut-edge research to immediate into the digital investigator’s hands. It is mainly used in military, commercial investigations, law enforcement, etc. in the entire world.

4. CAINE

Computer-Aided Investigative Environment is a Linux Live CD to meet up with the standards of forensic reliability. It is a semi-automated report generator to get the results in very less time. In the present version, CAINE is based on Linux and LightDM. It also has a user-friendly interface to work effectively.

5. X-Ways Forensics

X-Ways Forensic is a very advanced working Tool that runs faster; recovers deleted files, potable. It also offers features as it runs on a USB stick on Windows Server.

Its key features include disk cloning,2TB space in memory, recovering lost data, editing binary data structures etc.

6. Xplico

Xplico is a networking Forensic Tool that reconstructs the contents with a packet sniffer like Netsniff-ng. it extracts and reconstructs all web pages that are generally lost.

Some features of Xplico include:

  • As it is a networking Forensic Tool, it supports IPv4, IPv6, HTTP, SIP, etc.
  • It also supports Multithreading.
  • It gives the output in SQL Database.
  • There is no size limit on data entry and extraction.

7. The Sleuth Kit (+Autopsy)

The Sleuth Kit is a group of command tools that will allow checking the disk image and recovering any lost files from them. It analyses the volume and file system data. The plug-in built in this framework will allow you to incorporate new modules to build some automated scripts to get the result without any manual intervention.

Features of Autopsy include;

  • Large Cases are examined with forensic investigators in multiple stages.
  • It also extracts camera information and geological info.
  • It also identifies shortcuts and access in the documents.
  • It extracts web activity from a web browser to identify user actions.

8. Registry Recon

Registry Recon is a very advanced registry analysis tool. It examines the registry information from the data stored in the evidence, and in some cases, it also rebuilds its representation. It is not available for free; however, it charges some cost to use it.

9. Volatility

It is a memory forensic tool. This tool is a user-friendly tool, and it is available for free to use it. It helps in extracting the data from Windows trash files. The trashed data is recovered when data is lost, and it gets recovered from the hard disk at the Metadata level.

10. Bulk Extractor

It is a digital forensic tool to scan the disk data that include files, images, or directories. It is faster than other forensic tools and is used by the intelligence group or law enforcement agent to solve crimes related to cyber.

Conclusion

In this modern world, mobile phones and digital data have been emerging. So forensic tools are very important in any of the cases; however, we cannot take a risk in ignoring any such cases.  The above tools are based on their advanced features, cost, effectiveness, reliability, and its promising features. So there are companies who are trying to upgrade the system with much more powerful upgradations in these tools to handle cybercrimes.

This is a guide to Forensic Tools. Here we also discuss the definition and top 10 types of forensic tools along with an explanation. You may also have a look at the following articles to learn more –

What is an acquisition tool?

Customer acquisition tools can accompany you while forming your business strategies. These tools can help you to build your brand's web presence, grow your business, find new customers and turn your visitors into loyal customers. Using these tools can increase your sales and reach your target audience.

How many types of acquisition is used for digital forensics?

The four methods of acquiring data for forensics analysis are disk- to- image file, disk-to- disk copy, logical disk- to- disk or disk- to- data file, or sparse data copy of a folder or file.

What is acquisition in forensic?

What Is Data Acquisition in Digital Forensics? ​ The gathering and recovery of sensitive data during a digital forensic investigation is known as data acquisition. Cybercrimes often involve the hacking or corruption of data.

What are the four methods of acquiring data for forensics analysis?

There are four methods of acquiring data: collecting new data; converting/transforming legacy data; sharing/exchanging data; and purchasing data.