Legitimized [FOR500: Windows Forensic Analysis] Expert – Led Video Course – MASTERYTRAIL

1. Introduction to Windows Forensics
1.1 What is Digital Forensics?
1.2 Forensic Process Overview
1.3 Role of Windows in Investigations
1.4 Understanding Evidence Handling
1.5 Forensic Readiness
1.6 Legal Considerations
1.7 Digital Evidence Types
1.8 Volatility of Data
1.9 Importance of Documentation
1.10 Chain of Custody

2. Windows Operating System Fundamentals
2.1 Windows OS Architecture
2.2 Versions and Editions
2.3 File System Overview
2.4 Registry Structure
2.5 Program Execution
2.6 User Profiles
2.7 System Directories
2.8 Windows Services
2.9 Boot Process
2.10 System Artifacts

3. Windows File Systems (NTFS & FAT)
3.1 FAT Basics
3.2 NTFS Structure
3.3 Master File Table (MFT)
3.4 Alternate Data Streams
3.5 File Timestamps
3.6 Cluster Allocation
3.7 Deleted File Recovery
3.8 Journaling
3.9 File Permissions
3.10 File System Metadata

4. Understanding Windows Registry
4.1 Registry Hives
4.2 Key and Value Structure
4.3 User vs. System Hives
4.4 Common Registry Artifacts
4.5 MRU Lists
4.6 ShellBags
4.7 Auto-Run Locations
4.8 USB Device Tracking
4.9 Network Configuration
4.10 Registry Forensic Tools

5. Windows Event Logs
5.1 Log Types
5.2 Log Storage Locations
5.3 Event IDs
5.4 Security Log Analysis
5.5 Application Log Analysis
5.6 System Log Analysis
5.7 Log Parsing Tools
5.8 Timeline Reconstruction
5.9 Log Integrity
5.10 Exporting and Preserving Logs

6. Windows Artifacts Overview
6.1 Types of Artifacts
6.2 User Activity Artifacts
6.3 System Artifacts
6.4 Application Artifacts
6.5 Network Artifacts
6.6 Memory Artifacts
6.7 Persistence Mechanisms
6.8 Artifact Volatility
6.9 Correlation of Artifacts
6.10 Artifact Extraction Tools

7. User Account Forensics
7.1 Account Creation and Deletion
7.2 User Profile Paths
7.3 Password Hashes
7.4 Privilege Escalation
7.5 Logon/Logoff Events
7.6 Account SID
7.7 Last Logon Timestamp
7.8 Group Membership
7.9 Remote Access Accounts
7.10 Disabled/Locked Accounts

8. Windows Password Analysis
8.1 Password Storage Methods
8.2 NTLM Hashes
8.3 LM Hashes
8.4 Password Cracking Basics
8.5 Rainbow Tables
8.6 Password Policy
8.7 Password Reset Artifacts
8.8 Cached Credentials
8.9 Credential Manager
8.10 SAM Database Analysis

9. Timeline Analysis
9.1 Timeline Fundamentals
9.2 MAC Times
9.3 MFT Time Interpretation
9.4 Prefetch File Timestamps
9.5 Logon Sessions Timeline
9.6 Artifact Correlation
9.7 Timeline Tools
9.8 Super Timeline Creation
9.9 Timeline Visualization
9.10 Reporting Timeline Evidence

10. Prefetch Files
10.1 Prefetch File Structure
10.2 Location and Naming
10.3 Execution Count
10.4 Last Run Time
10.5 Prefetch Analysis Tools
10.6 Application Execution Evidence
10.7 Prefetch File Limitations
10.8 Application Path Recovery
10.9 Prefetch File Deletion
10.10 Prefetch in Modern Windows

11. Shortcut (LNK) Files
11.1 LNK File Structure
11.2 LNK Storage Locations
11.3 File Access Evidence
11.4 Timestamps in LNK Files
11.5 LNK Analysis Tools
11.6 Network Share Links
11.7 USB Device LNK Files
11.8 Recovered LNK Artifacts
11.9 LNK File Forensics in Investigations
11.10 Limitations of LNK Analysis

12. ShellBags Analysis
12.1 ShellBags Structure
12.2 User Activity Tracking
12.3 Folder Access Evidence
12.4 ShellBag Storage Locations
12.5 ShellBag Parsers
12.6 Deleted Folder Recovery
12.7 Network Folder Analysis
12.8 ShellBag Timestamps
12.9 Timeline Integration
12.10 Advanced ShellBag Forensics

13. Browser Forensics
13.1 Browser Artifacts Overview
13.2 Internet Explorer Artifacts
13.3 Edge & Chromium-Based Browsers
13.4 Firefox Artifacts
13.5 Chrome Artifacts
13.6 Web Cache and History
13.7 Cookie Analysis
13.8 Download Records
13.9 Form Data and Autofill
13.10 Browser Forensic Tools

14. Email Forensics
14.1 Email Storage Formats
14.2 PST/OST File Structure
14.3 MAPI Artifacts
14.4 Webmail Artifacts
14.5 Email Header Analysis
14.6 Attachments Recovery
14.7 Deleted Email Recovery
14.8 Forensic Email Tools
14.9 Email Timeline Analysis
14.10 Chain of Custody in Email Evidence

15. USB Device Forensics
15.1 USB Artifacts Overview
15.2 Registry USB Traces
15.3 SetupAPI Log Analysis
15.4 Device ID and Serial Number
15.5 Volume GUIDs
15.6 Recent Devices
15.7 LNK and Jump List Correlation
15.8 Event Log Traces
15.9 Timeline of USB Usage
15.10 Data Exfiltration Detection

16. Windows Services and Persistence
16.1 Service Architecture
16.2 Startup Types
16.3 Service Creation Artifacts
16.4 Registry Persistence Keys
16.5 Scheduled Tasks
16.6 WMI Persistence
16.7 Run Keys
16.8 Service Modification Detection
16.9 Malicious Service Identification
16.10 Disabling and Removing Services

17. Scheduled Tasks (Task Scheduler)
17.1 Task Scheduler Overview
17.2 Task File Locations
17.3 Task Execution Logs
17.4 Task XML Files
17.5 Registry Traces of Tasks
17.6 Malicious Task Detection
17.7 Task History Analysis
17.8 Timeline Correlation
17.9 Scheduled Task Tools
17.10 Advanced Scheduled Task Forensics

18. Windows Logon Sessions
18.1 Logon Types
18.2 Logon Session Artifacts
18.3 Logon Event IDs
18.4 Session Duration
18.5 Remote Logon Detection
18.6 Logon Scripts
18.7 Interactive vs. Network Logons
18.8 Session Termination Evidence
18.9 Pass-the-Hash Detection
18.10 User Impersonation Traces

19. Memory Forensics in Windows
19.1 Memory Acquisition Tools
19.2 RAM Artifacts
19.3 Process Enumeration
19.4 DLL Injection Detection
19.5 Volatility Framework Usage
19.6 Memory Dump Analysis
19.7 Credential Theft in Memory
19.8 Network Connections in RAM
19.9 Injected Code Detection
19.10 Memory Analysis Automation

20. Windows Networking Artifacts
20.1 Network Configuration
20.2 DHCP Client Logs
20.3 DNS Cache Analysis
20.4 ARP Cache
20.5 Netstat Output
20.6 Network Shares
20.7 Remote Desktop Traces
20.8 Firewall Logs
20.9 Wireless Profiles
20.10 VPN Connections

21. Application Execution Evidence
21.1 AppCompatCache (ShimCache)
21.2 RecentApps Artifacts
21.3 UserAssist Keys
21.4 Jump Lists
21.5 Prefetch Correlation
21.6 SRUM Database
21.7 RecentDocs Artifacts
21.8 Application Install/Uninstall Logs
21.9 Execution Timeline Creation
21.10 Anti-Forensic Countermeasures

22. Windows Jump Lists
22.1 Jump List Structure
22.2 AutomaticDestinations vs. CustomDestinations
22.3 File Access Tracing
22.4 LNK Files in Jump Lists
22.5 Recent Documents
22.6 Deleted Jump List Recovery
22.7 Timeline Integration
22.8 Jump List Forensic Tools
22.9 Malware Activity Detection
22.10 Jump Lists in Modern Windows

23. Recent Files Artifacts
23.1 RecentDocs Registry Key
23.2 Office Recent File Lists
23.3 Windows Recent Folder
23.4 LNK and Jump List Correlation
23.5 Timeline of File Access
23.6 MRU Lists
23.7 Deleted File Access Recovery
23.8 Application-Specific Recent Files
23.9 Forensic Tools for Recent Files
23.10 Reporting Recent File Activity

24. Windows System Restore and Shadow Copies
24.1 System Restore Points
24.2 Shadow Copy Structure
24.3 Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS)
24.4 Restore Point Artifacts
24.5 File Version Recovery
24.6 Shadow Explorer Tools
24.7 Timeline of Restore Points
24.8 Shadow Copy Forensics
24.9 Data Recovery
24.10 Limitations of Shadow Copies

25. Windows Search Artifacts
25.1 Windows Search Architecture
25.2 Search Index Files
25.3 Recent Searches
25.4 Search History Artifacts
25.5 Search Database Analysis
25.6 Timeline Correlation
25.7 File Content Indexing
25.8 User-Specific Searches
25.9 Search Artifact Recovery
25.10 Search Analysis Tools

26. Windows Printing Artifacts
26.1 Print Spooler Service
26.2 Print Logs
26.3 Print Job Files
26.4 Registry Print Artifacts
26.5 Printer Driver Artifacts
26.6 Print Job Timeline
26.7 Network Printing Traces
26.8 Forensic Tools for Print Artifacts
26.9 Printer Configuration
26.10 Print Job Recovery

27. Windows System Logs (Syslog, Setup, etc.)
27.1 Setup Logs
27.2 System Error Logs
27.3 Application Install Logs
27.4 Update History
27.5 Syslog Integration
27.6 Log Retention Policy
27.7 Log File Structure
27.8 Timestamps and Time Zones
27.9 Log Preservation and Export
27.10 Anomaly Detection in Logs

28. Windows Update and Patch Analysis
28.1 Windows Update Architecture
28.2 Update Log Files
28.3 Installed Updates Artifacts
28.4 Update Rollback Evidence
28.5 Patch Management
28.6 Security Patch Tracking
28.7 Timeline of Updates
28.8 Update Related Event Logs
28.9 Update Failures
28.10 Forensic Tools for Update Analysis

29. Windows Security Policies
29.1 Local Security Policy
29.2 Group Policy Objects
29.3 Audit Policy Settings
29.4 User Rights Assignment
29.5 Password Policies
29.6 Security Options
29.7 Policy Change Detection
29.8 GPO Application Evidence
29.9 Policy Enforcement
29.10 Policy Artifact Preservation

30. Anti-Forensic Techniques on Windows
30.1 Data Hiding Techniques
30.2 File Wiping Tools
30.3 Timestamp Manipulation
30.4 Alternate Data Streams Misuse
30.5 Registry Cleaning
30.6 Log Deletion
30.7 Steganography in Windows
30.8 Malware Anti-Forensic Methods
30.9 Detecting Anti-Forensics
30.10 Counteraction Strategies

31. Malware Forensics on Windows
31.1 Malware Types
31.2 Common Infection Vectors
31.3 Persistence Mechanisms
31.4 Malware Process Analysis
31.5 Registry Changes
31.6 Filesystem Alterations
31.7 Network Activity
31.8 Memory Artifacts
31.9 Timeline of Infection
31.10 Reporting Malware Findings

32. Windows Imaging and Acquisition
32.1 Acquisition Principles
32.2 Live vs. Dead Acquisition
32.3 Imaging Tools (FTK Imager, etc.)
32.4 Write Blockers
32.5 Image Formats
32.6 Hashing for Integrity
32.7 Acquisition Documentation
32.8 Network Acquisition
32.9 Remote Imaging
32.10 Troubleshooting Acquisition Issues

33. Evidence Preservation and Integrity
33.1 Importance of Integrity
33.2 Hash Verification
33.3 Chain of Custody Documentation
33.4 Write Protection
33.5 Secure Storage
33.6 Evidence Handling Best Practices
33.7 Bit-Level Copies
33.8 Integrity Verification Tools
33.9 Post-Acquisition Validation
33.10 Handling Digital Evidence in Court

34. Windows Artifact Correlation
34.1 Cross-Artifact Analysis
34.2 Timeline Integration
34.3 Correlating User Actions
34.4 Event Log Correlation
34.5 File System and Registry
34.6 Application and System Artifacts
34.7 Network and USB Correlation
34.8 Correlation Tools
34.9 Reporting Correlated Findings
34.10 Advanced Correlation Techniques

35. Windows Mobile Forensics Overview
35.1 Windows Phone OS Overview
35.2 Data Acquisition Methods
35.3 File System Structure
35.4 App Data Storage
35.5 Communication Artifacts
35.6 Location Data
35.7 Backup File Analysis
35.8 Security Features
35.9 Mobile Malware
35.10 Reporting Mobile Evidence

36. Cloud Artifacts in Windows
36.1 Cloud Storage Providers
36.2 OneDrive Artifacts
36.3 Dropbox and Google Drive
36.4 Sync History
36.5 Deleted Cloud Files
36.6 Browser and App Artifacts
36.7 Cloud Logon Evidence
36.8 Network Traffic Analysis
36.9 Correlation with Local Artifacts
36.10 Reporting Cloud Activity

37. Virtualization and Windows Forensics
37.1 Virtual Machine Artifacts
37.2 Hyper-V Forensics
37.3 VMWare Forensics
37.4 Snapshot Analysis
37.5 Virtual Disk Structure
37.6 VM Memory Acquisition
37.7 Host vs. Guest Artifacts
37.8 Virtual Network Traces
37.9 VM Anti-Forensics
37.10 Reporting Virtual Evidence

38. Windows 10/11 Specific Artifacts
38.1 Windows 10/11 Architecture
38.2 User Data Storage Changes
38.3 New Prefetch Format
38.4 SRUM Database Analysis
38.5 Cortana Artifacts
38.6 Edge Browser Forensics
38.7 Timeline Feature
38.8 Activity History
38.9 Cloud Integration
38.10 Version-Specific Forensic Tools

39. IoT Devices and Windows Integration
39.1 IoT and Windows
39.2 Device Communication
39.3 Artifact Storage
39.4 Network Logs
39.5 Device Authentication
39.6 User Activity
39.7 IoT Malware
39.8 Data Exfiltration Evidence
39.9 Timeline Correlation
39.10 Reporting IoT Artifacts

40. Windows Log Analysis Automation
40.1 Automation Benefits
40.2 Scripting with PowerShell
40.3 Log Parsing Scripts
40.4 Automated Timeline Creation
40.5 Scheduled Artifact Collection
40.6 Alerting on Key Events
40.7 Integration with SIEM
40.8 Automation Tools
40.9 Reporting Automation Results
40.10 Automation Limitations

41. Incident Response on Windows Systems
41.1 IR Process Overview
41.2 Evidence Identification
41.3 Containment Strategies
41.4 Eradication Steps
41.5 Recovery Procedures
41.6 Live Response Tools
41.7 Documentation
41.8 Communication with Stakeholders
41.9 Post-Incident Analysis
41.10 Lessons Learned

42. Windows Forensic Tools and Suites
42.1 Commercial Forensic Suites
42.2 Open Source Tools
42.3 Registry Analysis Tools
42.4 File System Tools
42.5 Memory Forensics Tools
42.6 Log Analysis Tools
42.7 Timeline Tools
42.8 Scripting and Automation Tools
42.9 Tool Validation
42.10 Tool Comparison

43. Reporting and Documentation
43.1 Forensic Report Structure
43.2 Evidence Summaries
43.3 Timeline Presentation
43.4 Technical vs. Non-Technical Reporting
43.5 Chain of Custody in Reports
43.6 Visualizing Data
43.7 Automation in Reporting
43.8 Report Review Process
43.9 Legal Considerations
43.10 Best Practices in Documentation

44. Legal and Ethical Issues
44.1 Digital Evidence in Court
44.2 Legal Authority
44.3 Search Warrants
44.4 Privacy Concerns
44.5 Evidence Admissibility
44.6 Expert Testimony
44.7 Handling Privileged Information
44.8 International Considerations
44.9 Forensic Ethics
44.10 Professional Conduct

45. Case Studies in Windows Forensics
45.1 Insider Threats
45.2 External Attacker Cases
45.3 Data Exfiltration
45.4 Intellectual Property Theft
45.5 Ransomware
45.6 Malware Outbreaks
45.7 Fraud Investigations
45.8 Employee Misconduct
45.9 Real-World Lessons
45.10 Best Practices from Cases

46. Emerging Trends in Windows Forensics
46.1 Cloud Integration
46.2 Machine Learning in Forensics
46.3 AI-Powered Analysis
46.4 IoT and Embedded Devices
46.5 Mobile Integration
46.6 Advanced Persistent Threats
46.7 New Anti-Forensic Techniques
46.8 Encrypted Artifacts
46.9 Forensic Challenges
46.10 Future of Windows Forensics

47. Advanced Windows Registry Analysis
47.1 Deep Dive into Hives
47.2 Registry Transaction Logs
47.3 Deleted Key Recovery
47.4 Registry Diff Analysis
47.5 User Activity Evidence
47.6 Malware Persistence Detection
47.7 Registry Forensic Automation
47.8 Correlating Registry with Filesystem
47.9 Timeline Enhancement
47.10 Advanced Tools

48. Windows Encryption and BitLocker Forensics
48.1 BitLocker Overview
48.2 Encryption Key Storage
48.3 BitLocker Recovery Keys
48.4 Encrypted Volume Analysis
48.5 TPM Integration
48.6 Bypass Techniques
48.7 Recovery from Encrypted Volumes
48.8 Log Analysis
48.9 File System Changes
48.10 BitLocker in Investigations

49. Forensic Readiness and Proactive Measures
49.1 Planning for Incidents
49.2 Policy Development
49.3 Baseline Artifact Collection
49.4 Automated Artifact Gathering
49.5 Regular System Audits
49.6 User Training
49.7 Forensic Toolkits
49.8 Evidence Storage Solutions
49.9 Readiness Testing
49.10 Continuous Improvement

50. Capstone Project and Practical Exams
50.1 Project Introduction
50.2 Evidence Set Distribution
50.3 Investigation Planning
50.4 Artifact Analysis
50.5 Timeline Creation
50.6 Report Drafting
50.7 Peer Review
50.8 Presentation of Findings
50.9 Practical Exam
50.10 Course Wrap-Up and Feedback