THE BASICS OF DIGITAL FORENSICS The Primer for Getting Started in Digital Forensics

The Basics of Digital Forensics provides a foundation for people new to the field of digital forensics. This book teaches you how to conduct examinations by explaining what digital forensics is, the methodologies used, key technical concepts and the tools needed to perform examinations. Details on digital forensics for computers, networks, cell phones, GPS, the cloud, and Internet are discussed. Readers will also learn how to collect evidence, document the scene, and recover deleted data. This is the only resource your students need to get a jump-start into digital forensics investigations.

This book is organized into 11 chapters. After an introduction to the basics of digital forensics, the book proceeds with a discussion of key technical concepts. Succeeding chapters cover labs and tools; collecting evidence; Windows system artifacts; anti-forensics; Internet and email; network forensics; and mobile device forensics. The book concludes by outlining challenges and concerns associated with digital forensics. PowerPoint lecture slides are also available.

This book will be a valuable resource for entry-level digital forensics professionals as well as those in complimentary fields including law enforcement, legal, and general information security.

• Learn all about what Digital Forensics entails
• Build a toolkit and prepare an investigative plan
• Understand the common artifacts to look for during an exam

John Sammons is a distinguished scholar and educator in digital forensics, currently serving as a Professor at Marshall University and Associate Director of the Institute for Cyber Security. With a background as a Huntington Police officer, he has been recognized for his investigative work by the U.S. Department of Justice.

He is the author and co-author of several notable books, including the acclaimed "The Basics of Digital Forensics," which was nominated for Digital Forensics Book of the Year in 2013. John also contributed to the digital forensics chapter of Douglas Ubelaker’s "Forensic Science: Current Issues, Future Directions."

In addition to his academic roles, he is the Fusion Center Liaison Officer for the West Virginia Intelligence Fusion Center and founded the Appalachian Institute of Digital Evidence, a non-profit focused on research and training in digital evidence. John holds multiple certifications and is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the FBI Infragard. Before joining Marshall, he co-founded Second Creek Technologies, a digital forensics firm. He also teaches advanced digital forensics and firearms to graduate students and provides training for legal and law enforcement professionals.