Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/windows-registry-forensics
In the intricate world of digital forensics, understanding the Windows Registry is paramount. It’s a treasure trove of information, silently recording user activity, system configurations, and application behaviors. The Coursera course ‘Windows Registry Forensics’ offers a comprehensive and practical guide to navigating this complex landscape.
From the very first module, ‘Introduction to the Windows Registry,’ the course establishes a strong foundation. It clearly explains what the Registry is, its critical role in investigations, and where to find its vital components (hives) in both live and non-live environments. The syllabus highlights the wealth of evidence contained within, including user account details, system settings, file access history, program execution, search queries, and connected devices.
‘Preparing to Examine the Windows Registry’ moves into the practical aspects, guiding learners on setting up a forensic workstation and introducing essential, freely available tools. It emphasizes not just how to use these tools but also how to validate them and understand their inner workings, a crucial aspect for any serious forensic analyst.
The subsequent modules delve into specific hive files, each offering a detailed exploration of the forensic artifacts they contain. The ‘NTUser.Dat Hive File Analysis’ is particularly insightful, revealing how to uncover user-specific activities like program usage, typed URLs, recently accessed files, and even startup configurations. The ‘SAM Hive File’ provides the keys to user account information, login times, and even password hashes, while the ‘Software Hive File’ sheds light on application execution, installation details, and network information.
Further modules on the ‘System Hive File,’ ‘USRClass.dat Hive File,’ and ‘AmCache Hive File’ continue to build this forensic toolkit. Learners will discover how to pinpoint system shutdown times, wireless network connections, user-specific folder access (even deleted ones via ShellBags), application execution history, and connected USB devices. The detail provided on extracting SHA-1 hashes and GUIDs from AmCache is particularly valuable for malware analysis and incident response.
Overall, ‘Windows Registry Forensics’ on Coursera is an exceptional course for anyone involved in digital forensics, cybersecurity, or incident response. It’s meticulously structured, packed with practical insights, and delivers a thorough understanding of how to extract critical evidence from the Windows Registry. Whether you’re a seasoned professional looking to sharpen your skills or a newcomer eager to learn the fundamentals, this course is highly recommended.
Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/windows-registry-forensics