Description

Digital Forensics: A Complete Guide

You're not just facing a skills gap. You're facing a credibility gap. In your field, assumptions are dangerous. Gaps in evidence cost cases. And outdated methods risk careers. Every missed artifact, every unverified chain of custody, erodes trust exactly when it's needed most.

Whether you're in law enforcement, cybersecurity, corporate compliance, or consulting, the pressure is real. You need to produce defensible results. Fast. Accurately. With documentation so airtight that even the most aggressive auditor finds nothing to question. But without a structured, proven system, you're left stitching together fragments from forums, outdated manuals, and trial-by-fire experience.

Digital Forensics: A Complete Guide isn't another theoretical overview. It’s your personal master protocol for turning digital chaos into courtroom-ready clarity. This course is engineered to take you from uncertain and overwhelmed to confident, certified, and career-ready-equipped with a board-level presentation package, forensic investigation framework, and a Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service.

Take Marcus R., a fraud investigator from Birmingham. After three stalled promotions, he used this course to rebuild his entire investigative workflow. Within six weeks, he led the analysis of a complex data exfiltration case involving encrypted drives and cloud logs. His documentation was adopted as the department standard. Two months later, he was promoted to Senior Forensic Analyst.

This is not about memorising tools. It’s about mastering methodology. The difference between guessing and knowing. Between reacting and leading. Between being replaceable and being relied upon. You deserve tools and frameworks that scale with real cases, not tutorial demos.

Here’s how this course is structured to help you get there.

Course Format & Delivery: Clarity, Confidence, and Risk-Free Access

Learn On Your Terms – No Deadlines, No Pressure

Digital Forensics: A Complete Guide is 100% self-paced. You gain immediate online access upon enrollment, with no fixed start dates, no weekly modules to unlock, and no time zones to manage. You decide when and where you learn. Study during downtime, between investigations, or in focused sessions-on your laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

Lifetime Access, Future-Proof Knowledge

Once enrolled, you own permanent access. The digital landscape shifts. New file systems emerge. Cloud services update their APIs. Your course materials are continuously updated at no extra cost. Every revision, every new technique, every best-practice refinement is included. This isn’t a one-time download. It’s a living system that evolves with the field.

The average learner completes the core curriculum in 6 to 8 weeks while working full time. More than 70% report immediate application of techniques during their first week-recovering deleted data, verifying tampering, and structuring investigative reports with new rigour.

Global, Secure, and Mobile-Optimised

Access is available 24/7 from any country. All content is encrypted and hosted on secure servers. The interface is mobile-friendly, supports screen readers, and requires no special software. You can progress during commute breaks, court adjournments, or late-night analysis sessions.

Direct Support from Industry Practitioners

Throughout the course, you receive structured guidance from certified digital forensics practitioners. Each module includes direct response points for clarification, case examples, and workflow optimisation. This is not a forum-based support model. You get expert-reviewed answers tied directly to your investigative context.

Certificate of Completion – Globally Recognised

Upon fulfilling all practical requirements, you earn a Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service. This credential is referenced by law enforcement agencies, IT audit firms, and forensic consultancies across 43 countries. It signals methodological precision, technical depth, and adherence to international best practices. Your certificate includes a unique verification ID for professional validation.

No Hidden Fees. No Surprises.

The pricing is transparent and one-time. There are no enrollment fees, no recurring charges, and no upsells. You pay once, gain full access, and receive every update for life. We accept Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal-securely processed with bank-level encryption.

100% Risk-Free: 30-Day Satisfied or Refunded

If at any point in the first 30 days you find the material isn’t delivering clarity, structure, or ROI, simply reach out. We’ll issue a full refund-no questions, no hassle. This is our promise: you either gain confidence in your digital forensics capability or walk away with zero financial risk.

You’ll Receive Access in Stages – No Overwhelm

After enrollment, you’ll receive a confirmation email outlining your participation. Your access details and login credentials are sent in a follow-up communication once your course materials are fully prepared. This ensures your learning environment is configured correctly and ready for immediate progress tracking and structured engagement.

“Will This Work for Me?” – Addressing Your Biggest Concern

Whether you're a junior analyst, mid-career IT auditor, or transitioning from incident response, this course is designed for real-world applicability across roles. Investigator, compliance officer, legal technologist-this framework fits your environment.

You don't need to be a programmer. You don't need prior forensic certifications. The system is built from the ground up to bridge technical knowledge with procedural rigour.

This works even if:

You've never written a forensic report that held up under cross-examination.
You’re unsure how to properly isolate a device without contaminating evidence.
You’ve relied on automated tools but don’t understand the underlying data structures.
You’re under pressure to deliver faster results without sacrificing compliance.

This is risk reversal in action. You’re not betting on promises. You’re investing in a repeatable, verifiable process that transforms how you approach every investigation.

Curriculum Overview: 80+ Topics, Real-World Rigor, Expert-Validated Structure

Module 1: Foundations of Digital Evidence

Understanding the legal basis of digital evidence
Defining digital evidence: what qualifies and what doesn’t
The Daubert and Frye standards in digital forensics
Chain of custody: principles and real-world documentation
Volatility of digital data: hierarchy and acquisition priority
Acquisition vs analysis: separating collection from interpretation
The role of metadata in evidence validation
File system basics: FAT, NTFS, ext4, APFS, HFS+
Logical vs physical data extraction: when to use each
Hashing algorithms: MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256 in practice
Write blockers: necessity, types, and practical deployment
Storage media evolution: HDD, SSD, NVMe, USB, cloud
RAM and volatile memory: initial capture considerations
Legal authority and search warrants for digital devices
Defensible decision-making under pressure

Module 2: Forensic Acquisition & Imaging

Pre-acquisition checklist: device triage and safety protocols
Device isolation procedures to prevent remote wipe
Creating a sterile acquisition environment
Bit-for-bit imaging: tools and validation workflows
Using DD, DCFLDD, and Guymager for forensic imaging
Creating E01, AFF, and RAW image formats
Splitting large images for portable media
Compression in forensic imaging: trade-offs and risks
Verifying image integrity with hash checksums
Labelling and cataloguing forensic images
Secure storage of acquisition media
Documentation templates for image creation
Handling encrypted storage during acquisition
Imaging smartphones: hardware and software solutions
Dealing with powered-off vs powered-on devices

Module 3: File System Analysis Deep Dive

NTFS structure: MFT, attributes, and resident data
Recovering deleted files using MFT analysis
Master File Table parsing with open-source tools
Alternate Data Streams: use and detection
Volume Shadow Copies: exploitation for file recovery
FAT32 and exFAT: directory entry parsing
ext4 journal forensics and inode recovery
Journaling file systems: what they log and how to use it
APFS snapshot analysis for time-based recovery
File carving: when metadata is missing
Signature-based vs content-based carving
Restoring fragmented files from unallocated space
Timeline analysis using file system timestamps
Understanding file slack and RAM slack
Detecting timestamp manipulation and anomalies

Module 4: Operating System Forensics (Windows)

Windows Registry structure and key locations
Extracting user activity from SAM, SOFTWARE, SYSTEM hives
UserAssist, BAM, and Shellbags analysis for activity reconstruction
RecentDocs and Jump Lists: application usage tracking
SRUM database analysis for app and resource usage
AmCache and ShimCache: program execution evidence
Windows Event Logs: parsing Security, System, Application logs
Identifying logon events, account changes, and privilege use
Windows Prefetch analysis: application execution timeline
Shortcut file analysis (.LNK files) for file access tracking
Thumbs.db and desktop.ini for visual evidence of access
Windows Task Scheduler forensics
USB device history from Registry and Event Logs
Network connection history: NetworkList and NCSI
Prefetch hash calculation and matching

Module 5: Operating System Forensics (Linux & macOS)

Linux log locations: /var/log, auth.log, syslog, journalctl
Analyzing SSH login records and failed attempts
bash_history and zsh_history recovery
Systemd journal forensics and evidence extraction
Sudo logs and privilege escalation tracking
macOS Unified Logging System (ULS) analysis
macOS installation logs and system updates
Plist file parsing: user and system preferences
Quarantine events and downloaded file tracking
FSEvents log: real-time file system activity
Spotlight index for file discovery patterns
APFS container and volume group analysis
iCloud and Continuity artifacts on macOS
Keychain analysis: password storage and access history
Time Machine backup forensics

Module 6: Memory Forensics and Malware Detection

Memory dump acquisition using tools like FTK Imager and LiME
Volatility framework setup and configuration
Detecting running processes and hidden malware
Network connections in memory: identifying C2 traffic
Extracting injected code and shellcode from memory
Analyzing browser artifacts from RAM dumps
Registry hives resident in memory
Extracting encryption keys from memory
Detecting rootkits and kernel-level modifications
Process hollowing and code injection detection
Memory timeline reconstruction
User sessions and logged-on users from memory
DLL injection forensics
Credential dumping analysis: LSASS and mimikatz traces
Timeline correlation between disk and memory artifacts

Module 8: Mobile Device Forensics

Android file system structure: data, system, cache partitions
iOS directory structure and sandboxing model
Logical vs physical vs chip-off extraction
Android SQLite databases: call logs, messages, browsing
iOS backup analysis: iTunes and iCloud backups
Location data from cell tower and GPS logs
Geofence and visit history reconstruction
App-specific artifacts: WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram
Deleted message recovery from SQLite databases
Android WebView and Chrome cache analysis
iOS Safari history and reading list
Call and SMS metadata extraction
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connection history
Mobile Cloud Sync: Google, iCloud, Dropbox
App permissions and usage tracking

Module 9: Cloud Forensics and SaaS Investigations

Navigating cloud storage forensics: OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox
Obtaining logs from Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace
Understanding shared responsibility in cloud investigations
Cloud provider data retention policies
Requesting data from cloud providers legally
AWS CloudTrail log analysis for user activity
Azure Activity Logs and sign-in logs
Google Admin Audit Logs and token events
Identifying file sharing and external collaboration
Detecting data exfiltration via cloud sync
Reconstructing user activity across devices
Authentication logs: MFA usage and bypass attempts
API token usage and service account forensics
Timestamp correlation across global cloud regions
Cloud configuration changes and incident triggers

Module 10: Email and Messaging Forensics

Parsing email headers for sender, route, and time verification
Identifying spoofing and phishing attempts from headers
Recovering email from PST and OST files
Exchange Server log analysis for message tracking
Google Vault and Microsoft eDiscovery tools
Extracting attachments from forensic images
SMTP transaction logs and delivery verification
Analyzing email client databases: Outlook, Thunderbird
Webmail browser artifacts and session tracking
Signal, WhatsApp, and Telegram forensic extraction
Metadata extraction from encrypted messaging apps
Identifying group chat participation and message editing
Timeline analysis of message exchanges
Deleted message recovery from SQLite databases
Email forwarding and rule-based automation tracking

Module 11: Timeline Analysis & Case Reconstruction

Creating composite timelines from multiple sources
Using TSK and Plaso for timeline generation
Event correlation: device usage, logins, file access
Filtering noise and focusing on key events
Visual timeline tools for reporting clarity
Aligning digital activity with physical alibis
Identifying anomalies in user behaviour patterns
Establishing proof of access or presence
Mapping multiple devices to a single user
Linking account creation to device fingerprints
Detecting staged activity or false timelines
Browser timeline: sessions, tabs, and navigation
USB device connection timeline
Print job and document creation timeline
Multi-platform user activity synthesis

Module 12: Advanced Artifact Hunting & Anti-Forensics Detection

Recognising common anti-forensics techniques
File wiping tools and their forensic footprints
Disk sanitisation vs data remanence
Hidden partitions and volume steganography
Detecting encrypted containers: TrueCrypt, VeraCrypt
Steganography in images, audio, and documents
Time-shifting: detecting manual clock manipulation
Data fragmentation as obfuscation
MALWARE artefacts: persistence mechanisms and logs
Scheduled task forensics for delayed execution
Command-line history and script execution traces
Registry persistence locations
Startup folder and service-based persistence
Browser extension and plugin analysis
Web cache analysis for hidden payloads

Module 13: Digital Forensics Reporting & Legal Admissibility

Structuring a forensic report for legal review
Executive summary vs technical appendix
Using plain language without losing technical accuracy
Including hash values, timestamps, and source verification
Citing methodologies and tools used
Visual evidence: annotated screenshots and diagrams
Timeline exhibits for courtroom presentation
Chain of custody documentation templates
Peer review and validation statements
Expert witness preparation guidelines
Responding to challenges on methodology
Avoiding opinion without evidence
Distinguishing observation from conclusion
Version control for forensic reports
Secure report delivery and encryption

Module 14: Integration, Certification, and Next Steps

Building a personal forensic toolkit
Selecting open-source vs commercial tools
Configuring a forensic workstation securely
Version control for your forensic cases
Using progress tracking to manage investigations
Gamified learning milestones for skill retention
Preparing for professional certifications (CDFE, EnCE, GCFA)
Career advancement pathways in digital forensics
Networking with forensic communities
Contributing to open-source forensic tools
Creating your own case studies for portfolios
Presenting findings to non-technical stakeholders
Continuing education and update alerts
Joining professional associations (IAFI, HTCIA)
Final assessment and Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service

Digital Forensics A Complete Guide