Cyber Security & Digital Forensics

About Course

This short course provides an in-depth understanding of Cyber Security and Digital Forensics for individuals seeking to protect digital environments and investigate cybercrimes. The course covers foundational concepts in cyber security, common attack methods, as well as the tools and techniques used in digital forensics to investigate and recover evidence from digital systems. Through a mix of theory and practical activities, students will gain the skills necessary to analyze and defend against cyber threats, and conduct forensic investigations following a cyber incident

What Will You Learn?

  • By the end of the course, participants will be equipped to:
  • • Implement basic security measures in networks and systems.
  • • Identify common types of cyber threats.
  • • Conduct digital forensics investigations to collect and analyze evidence.
  • • Understand the legal and ethical aspects of cyber security and digital forensics.

Course Content

Week 1: Introduction to Cyber Security
Learning Objectives: • Understand the fundamentals of cyber security. • Learn the CIA Triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability). • Discuss the role of threats, vulnerabilities, and risks. • Explore common cyber attacks (malware, phishing, DDoS). Session Overview: 1. What is Cyber Security? o Defining Cyber Security: Its importance in the digital age. o Key Concepts: Security, privacy, integrity, and availability. 2. The CIA Triad o Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability—principles that guide all security measures. o Real-world examples illustrating each component. 3. Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Risks o How they are interrelated and affect security posture. o Basic principles of risk management and threat modeling. 4. Common Cyber Attacks o Malware: Viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware. o Phishing: Techniques and prevention. o DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service): How it works and how to defend against it. Practical Activity: • Activity: Review a recent cyber attack (e.g., WannaCry), identify the attack vector, and suggest preventive measures. Homework: • Case Study: Write a report on the SolarWinds cyber attack, detailing the method of the attack, the impact, and lessons learned.

Week 2: Network Security Essentials
Learning Objectives: • Understand network security fundamentals. • Explore the OSI Model and its relevance to security. • Learn how to configure basic firewalls, IDS/IPS, and VPNs. Session Overview: 1. Introduction to Network Security o Importance of network security in protecting organizational infrastructure. o Different types of networks (LAN, WAN, VPN, etc.). 2. The OSI Model o Explanation of the 7 Layers (Application, Transport, Network, Data Link, Physical). o How each layer can be a potential vulnerability in network security. 3. Network Security Tools o Firewalls: Configuration basics, types (hardware, software, next-gen firewalls). o Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS): How they monitor network traffic and prevent attacks. o VPN (Virtual Private Network): How it works to secure communications and data. Practical Activity: • Setup a basic firewall using a tool like pfSense. • Analyze network traffic using Wireshark to understand potential vulnerabilities. Homework: • Network Design Review: Choose a network configuration (e.g., small business, home network) and suggest security improvements.

Week 3: Malware Analysis and Protection
Learning Objectives: • Identify different malware types (viruses, trojans, ransomware). • Learn about malware detection and protection methods. • Introduction to malware analysis techniques (static vs dynamic analysis). Session Overview: 1. Malware Types o Viruses, Worms, Trojan Horses, Ransomware, Spyware, and Adware. o Behavior, propagation methods, and impact on systems. 2. Malware Detection and Prevention o How antivirus software detects malware (signature-based and heuristic detection). o Endpoint protection strategies for defense. 3. Malware Analysis o Static analysis: Inspecting code and looking for known signatures. o Dynamic analysis: Running malware in a sandbox and observing behavior. o Overview of tools: Wireshark, IDA Pro, OllyDbg, Cuckoo Sandbox. Practical Activity: • Use VirusTotal to analyze a sample malware file. • Conduct basic malware analysis in a sandbox environment using Cuckoo Sandbox. Homework: • Research: Investigate a recent ransomware attack, such as WannaCry or NotPetya, and explain how it was distributed and mitigated.

Week 4: Cyber Attack Techniques and Threat Intelligence
Learning Objectives: • Learn about cyber attack techniques (phishing, SQL injection, MITM). • Understand threat intelligence and its role in proactive defense. • Explore attack frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK. Session Overview: 1. Common Cyber Attack Techniques o Phishing: Different types and defense strategies. o SQL Injection: How attackers exploit web applications. o Man-in-the-Middle (MITM): Intercepting and altering communications. 2. Threat Intelligence o The role of threat intelligence in preemptively identifying attacks. o Sources of intelligence: open-source intelligence (OSINT), commercial, and government. 3. Cyber Attack Frameworks o MITRE ATT&CK: Understanding adversary tactics and techniques for better defense planning. o Diamond Model: Framework for analyzing cyber attack dynamics. Practical Activity: • Simulate a phishing attack using tools like GoPhish. • Analyze an attack scenario using the MITRE ATT&CK framework to identify the attack stages. Homework: • Report: Write a report on the evolution of SQL injection attacks and provide examples of defenses.

Week 5: Introduction to Digital Forensics
Learning Objectives: • Understand the role of digital forensics in cyber security. • Learn the basic principles of evidence collection, chain of custody, and forensic analysis. • Familiarize with forensic tools like Autopsy and FTK. Session Overview: 1. What is Digital Forensics? o Definition, importance, and scope in cyber security investigations. o Role of digital forensics in solving cybercrimes and providing legal evidence. 2. Phases of Digital Forensics o Identification, Acquisition, Analysis, and Reporting. o Preserving the integrity of digital evidence and chain of custody. 3. Forensic Tools and Techniques o Tools for evidence acquisition: FTK Imager, dd (Linux). o Evidence analysis tools: Autopsy, X1 Search, and Sleuth Kit. Practical Activity: • Evidence Collection: Use FTK Imager to create a forensic image of a USB device. • Data Analysis: Use Autopsy to analyze the forensic image and identify key evidence. Homework: • Forensic Report: Write a basic forensic report detailing how evidence was collected from a USB drive.

Week 6: Network Forensics and Incident Response
Learning Objectives: • Understand the role of network forensics in investigating cyber attacks. • Learn the principles of incident response and its stages. • Explore SIEM tools for incident detection and response. Session Overview: 1. Network Forensics o How to use Wireshark to capture and analyze network traffic. o Identifying anomalies and potential attacks (e.g., DDoS, MITM). 2. Incident Response o The incident response lifecycle: Preparation, Detection, Containment, Eradication, Recovery, and Lessons Learned. o Overview of SIEM tools (e.g., Splunk, ELK Stack) for real-time monitoring and alerting. 3. Incident Response Frameworks o NIST and SANS frameworks for incident management. o Importance of having a cybersecurity incident response plan (CIRP). Practical Activity: • Network Traffic Analysis: Use Wireshark to capture and analyze traffic for suspicious activity. • Incident Response: Create an incident response scenario, simulate an attack, and go through the response phases. Homework: • Write an Incident Response Plan: Create an incident response plan for a medium-sized business.

Week 7: Legal and Ethical Issues in Cyber Security and Forensics
Learning Objectives: • Explore the legal and ethical considerations in cyber security and forensics. • Understand cybercrime laws, data privacy, and evidence handling protocols. • Discuss international regulations such as GDPR and HIPAA. Session Overview: 1. Legal Issues in Cyber Security o Cybercrime laws: CFAA, GDPR, and HIPAA regulations. o Protecting digital assets: Intellectual property and data privacy laws. 2. Ethical Considerations in Digital Forensics o Importance of chain of custody, maintaining evidence integrity, and respecting privacy. o Ethical hacking and legal concerns regarding penetration testing. 3. International Standards o Overview of forensic standards like ISO/IEC 27037 (evidence handling). o Importance of certifications such as Certified Forensic Computer Examiner (CFCE). Practical Activity: • Case Study Discussion: Discuss ethical dilemmas like handling evidence that may infringe on privacy. Homework: • Research: Investigate and explain a cybercrime law in your jurisdiction.

Week 8: Capstone Project and Course Review
Learning Objectives: • Apply knowledge gained throughout the course to a real-world cyber security scenario. • Demonstrate proficiency in incident response, digital forensics, and cyber defense. Session Overview: 1. Capstone Project o Scenario-based practical assessment where students respond to a cyber attack by applying incident response procedures, performing forensics, and implementing cyber defense measures. o Students will analyze a hypothetical cybercrime and present their findings and response. 2. Course Review and Q&A o Recap the key concepts covered throughout the course. o Open Q&A session for clarifications and final questions.

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