IY2S503 - Forensic Digital Evidence 01 Sep 2022 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 5

Associated Module Information

Module Code: IY2S503
Module Title: Forensic Digital Evidence
Faculty: Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science
Faculty Group: Cyber Security
Faculty Sub Group: Cyber Security
Module Leader: Peter Eden
Module Team: Andrew Bellamy, Christopher Tubb, Sharan Johnstone, Christopher Manley, Madhu Khurana, Emma Derbi, Joshua Richards, Peter Eden, Richard Ward, Beth Jenkins, Arun Kumar, Rachael Medhurst, Nisha Rawindaran, Mamoun Qasem, Chelsea Cooper
First Intended Intake: NOV 2015 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 5
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100385 - computer forensics
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 5
Valid From 01 Sep 2022
Valid To 31 Aug 2028

Module Aims

To provide knowledge of the tools and techniques associated with computer forensics

To develop the students ability to apply computer forensics principles to a range of problems

Content Summary

Digital forensics analysis tools

Forensic case creation and evidence validation

Application Forensics:
Web browsers

  • URL history
  • form data
  • temporary files
  • downloaded files
  • cookies

Windows registry

Operating System Analysis:

Storage Forensics

  • Data abstraction layers
  • physical media
  • block device
  • file system
  • application artifacts

Data Acquisition

  • logical data acquisition
  • block-level acquisition
  • cryptographic hashes

encryption concerns

  • technical challenges
  • Encrypted file analysis techniques

Filesystem Analysis (Windows/Linux/MAC)

  • Blocks
  • Files
  • Filesystems
  • File metadata analysis

Block device analysis

  • Partitions
  • Logical Volumes

Data recovery & File content Carving

  • carving techniques
  • fragmentation
  • slack space

Artifact Analysis

  • cryptographic hashing
  • block-level analysis
  • Evidence identification and analysis

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 24
Tutorial 24
Independent Study 80
Directed Study 72
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 To demonstrate the correct usage and the features of a standard forensic analysis tool
LO2 To identify, analyse and extract a wide range of computer forensic artefacts found in Windows, MAC and Linux operating systems and file systems.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Onsite Practical Assessment Practical Test 2 A practical test, carried out in the laboratory regarding the forensic analysis of a Windows system 90 N/A 60 No 40
Synchronous Onsite Practical Assessment Practical Test 1 A practical test, carried out in the laboratory regarding the forensic analysis of a Macintosh system 60 N/A 40 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Practical Test 2
Practical Test 1

Reading List

https://rl.talis.com/3/southwales/lists/0E56B762-582B-1BFD-AEE7-F452290796D7.html?lang=en