Author: Brett Shavers

http://www.amazon.com/author/brettshavers https://www.brettshavers.com https://www.dfir.training

Hey look! Now there is a book on FTK.

FTK
http://amzn.to/O38eWh

I previously posted that a book on FTK is sure to come along, since we have the best book of X-Ways and the other book on Encase.  Now comes a book on FTK.  Just like the XWF Guide or the upcoming Encase guide, I wouldn’t see any reason for a FTK user to not have a book on FTK.

It makes sense to have “the” book on X-Ways, “the” book on Encase, and “the” book on FTK.  By having books on your major forensic suites, it is easier to compare what suite “A” does compared to tools “B” and “C” as well as how to get from point A to B using each tool.

So….how about that book on ProDiscover?  Anyone?  Grab the opportunity before someone else does.  I promise to buy it, as I have already ordered the FTK and Encase books.

I have brief reviews on my favorite DF books at http://winfe.wordpress.com/books/

————————————————————————–

FTK
http://amzn.to/O38eWh

encase
http://amzn.to/P9XxCl

Xways-Cover
http://amzn.to/1gfx0t5

Not X-Ways, but of interest to Encase users

Computer Forensics and Digital Investigation with EnCase Forensic

encase
http://amzn.to/1eY02wn

 

I know, this has nothing to do with X-Ways Forensics.  But hey, the X-Ways Practitioner’s Guide was first…

Practically, this seems like a good book for Encase users to park on the shelf (while the X-Ways Practitioner’s Guide sits on your desk next to your keyboard).

So, when is that book on “FTK” coming out….and who is going to write it?…And if you do want to write it, give Syngress a shout.

WinFE (and of course, XWF)

Taking WinFE to even another level on a multiboot thumbdrive.  Very cool, but I spread this word to you because there are few things in life neater than a forensically bootable CD/USB with X-Ways Forensics.

From Hacking Exposed: Adding the WinFE Image to the Multiboot Thumbdrive Image (Video)

http://hackingexposedcomputerforensicsblog.blogspot.com/2014/02/daily-blog-248-adding-winfe-image-to.html

A gathering of the X-Ways users in Australia

The X-Ways Users Conference is here in a few weeks.  My kind of conference: Australia and fellow X-Ways users! 

Maybe next year for me…but it sure would make for a good vacation, I mean, training trip.

Another reason to use, try, or at least just learn about XWF

Not that many years ago, you would not find a requirement of having experience with X-Ways to apply for a DFIR job.   But now, some jobs recommend it and yet some others require it.  This is not to say the other big players (Encase, Accessdata, etc..) are not needed or useful, just that XWF has made it to the same level at a price point that will probably not be beat with capabilities that still outpace other tools.

So……it makes sense to know a little about the tool that might put you over the edge for that next job.  Of course, you need to be competent too, but like I’ve said before, “beware the examiners that use X-Ways Forensics because they probably know what they are doing.”

one two three

For the future XWF users, check out www.x-ways.net for some details, download and read a quick guide, and when you move forward with XWF, buy the book 🙂

 

WFA/4e

I’m duplicating this post from another blog because this will probably be the coolest book to come out this year in digital forensics and is a must-have.  The short version as to why the book is a must-have is “duh, it’s Harlan’s latest book…and Windows 8…”

I’ll wait to give an “official” review of Harlan’s book (Windows Forensic Analysis Toolkit, Fourth Edition: Advanced Analysis Techniques for Windows 8) only to give others the chance to read it once it becomes available.  But…I’ll say that based on my early reading as a tech editor, this is a book that ranks for me in as much anticipation as a new Tom Clancy novel being released.

fourth editionI also think this is one of those books that if not pre-ordered, will have you waiting until it is reprinted due to being over-ordered.  The X-Ways Practitioner’s Guide was one of those books too, where late-comers had to wait weeks for the second printing.  This book is no different, because just about all of the neat things in the book show just how much Harlan has discovered in some very neat areas of Windows 8.

One thing I learned about ordering books from Amazon, is that Amazon will pretty much match the lowest price found elsewhere.  I also learned that with a pre-ordered book, you can cancel before the book is printed if you find a lower price somewhere else.  The point is, pre-order the book or you may be waiting a month after everyone else gets their copy…it comes out in April ’14 and I’d expect the second printing to be needed in April ’14…

Cloud Storage Forensics

Image
http://www.amazon.com

I have a detailed review of this book at http://winfe.wordpress.com.  In short, it’s a really good book and of all tools to choose for the research in the book, the authors picked X-Ways Forensics.  But then, that should not come as any surprise.

There’s still time to ask Santa to put this in your stocking…

Cool update to the XWFIM, Portable Install

Eric is at it again.  This time with a pretty cool update to the X-Ways Forensics Install Manager (v0.0.7.0).  The update to the XWFIM now includes an option to create a portable install to external media.   Page 13 of the Practitioner’s Guide to X-Ways Forensics details how to do this manually, but XWFIM does it for you with a few clicks.

portable
Easy enough

 

drive letter
Cool! Notepad++ and Volume Label renamed.

 

result
Bam! Done.

 

Another cool little feature is that the XWFIM creates all the case folders for you in the process of the portable install.  Neat.

folder
I like this. Saves a few keystrokes and I’m all about saving keystrokes.

 

Don’t forget, if you liked the Practitioner’s Guide to X-Ways Forensics, write a review on Amazon to let us know how you liked it (or if you didn’t…).  And if you use XWF and didn’t buy the guide…you are missing out on more than a few tips and tricks that will save you dozens of keystrokes.

X-Ways Forensics Install Manager

I cannot imagine anyone who uses XWF not having Eric Zimmerman‘s XWFIM.   Every time I use it, I wonder how I did without it.  XWFIM is available through the XWF support forum.  It’s free, but you need a license for XWF to get it.

Eric constantly adds little things to it, much like Stefan adds ‘little’ things to X-Ways Forensics.  One of the latest little additions is the selection box to “Include pre-release versions” which is pretty cool.

xwfim

 

And if you haven’t bought the XWF Guide yet and you use the XWFIM, just click the book’s graphic and you can have the guide on your Kindle in about 30 seconds.

xwfim2

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