Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science

School: Computer and Security Science

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Computer Forensics
  • Unit Code

    CSG2305
  • Year

    2015
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

Modern forensic computing involves the preservation, identification and analysis of computer and digital based evidence stored in the form of magnetically encoded information on various devices and media. Computer or digital evidence is often not examinable by conventional access methods, so specialised software tools, techniques and processes must be employed to preserve and recover this evidence. This unit also introduces students to the tools, techniques and methods needed to recover digital evidence from a variety of devices.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 1 units from CSI1101

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Advise on digital forensic issues and related policy associated with computer networks, telecommunications and distributed systems.
  2. Analyse and report on data recovered using forensic methods.
  3. Apply digital forensic tools and techniques to recover data from various sources in a forensically sound manner.
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of digital forensic procedures and methodologies.
  5. Demonstrate an understanding of the current legal and ethical positions that relate to digital forensics.
  6. Describe the scientific method and its application to digital forensics.
  7. Detail current digital forensic issues.

Unit Content

  1. Current issues in forensic computing.
  2. Data acquisition and recovery.
  3. Ethical and legal issues of forensic computing application.
  4. Forensic computing evidence recovery tools and techniques.
  5. Future national and international issues and trends.
  6. Physical, environmental and organisational considerations for deploying forensic computing initiatives.
  7. The forensic process.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, workshops, case studies, and practical exercises.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
WorkshopWorkshop Exercises20%
AssignmentAssignment - Forensic Investigation30%
Examination ^End of Semester Examination50%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
WorkshopWorkshop Exercises20%
AssignmentAssignment - Forensic Investigation30%
Examination ^End of Semester Examination50%

^ Mandatory to Pass

Text References

  • ^ Nelson, B., Phillips, A., & Steuart, C. (2010). Guide to computer forensics and investigations (4th ed.). Boston: Course Technology.
  • Sammons, J. (2012). The basics of digital forensics: The primer for getting started in digital forensics (1st ed.). Amsterdam: Syngress.
  • Carvey, H. (2012). Windows forensic analysis toolkit (3rd ed.). Amsterdam: Syngress.
  • Carrier, B. (2005). File system forensic analysis (1st ed.). Boston, MA: Addison-Wesley Professional.

Journal References

  • Computers and Security
  • Computer Security Journal
  • Computer Crime Digest
  • Security Systems Digest
  • International Journal of Digital Evidence

^ Mandatory reference


Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

CSG2305|2|1

Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science

School: Computer and Security Science

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Computer Forensics
  • Unit Code

    CSG2305
  • Year

    2015
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

Modern forensic computing involves the preservation, identification and analysis of computer and digital based evidence stored in the form of magnetically encoded information on various devices and media. Computer or digital evidence is often not examinable by conventional access methods, so specialised software tools, techniques and processes must be employed to preserve and recover this evidence. This unit also introduces students to the tools, techniques and methods needed to recover digital evidence from a variety of devices.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 1 units from CSI1101

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Advise on digital forensic issues and related policy associated with computer networks, telecommunications and distributed systems.
  2. Analyse and report on data recovered using forensic methods.
  3. Apply digital forensic tools and techniques to recover data from various sources in a forensically sound manner.
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of digital forensic procedures and methodologies.
  5. Demonstrate an understanding of the current legal and ethical positions that relate to digital forensics.
  6. Describe the scientific method and its application to digital forensics.
  7. Detail current digital forensic issues.

Unit Content

  1. Current issues in forensic computing.
  2. Data acquisition and recovery.
  3. Ethical and legal issues of forensic computing application.
  4. Forensic computing evidence recovery tools and techniques.
  5. Future national and international issues and trends.
  6. Physical, environmental and organisational considerations for deploying forensic computing initiatives.
  7. The forensic process.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, workshops, case studies, and practical exercises.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
WorkshopWorkshop Exercises20%
AssignmentAssignment - Forensic Investigation30%
Examination ^End of Semester Examination50%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
WorkshopWorkshop Exercises20%
AssignmentAssignment - Forensic Investigation30%
Examination ^End of Semester Examination50%

^ Mandatory to Pass

Text References

  • ^ Nelson, B., Phillips, A., & Steuart, C. (2016). Guide to computer forensics and investigations (5th ed.). Boston: Course Technology.
  • Carvey, H. (2012). Windows forensic analysis toolkit (3rd ed.). Amsterdam: Syngress.
  • Carrier, B. (2005). File system forensic analysis (1st ed.). Boston, MA: Addison-Wesley Professional.
  • Sammons, J. (2012). The basics of digital forensics: The primer for getting started in digital forensics (1st ed.). Amsterdam: Syngress.

Journal References

  • Computers and Security
  • Computer Security Journal
  • Computer Crime Digest
  • Security Systems Digest
  • International Journal of Digital Evidence

^ Mandatory reference


Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

CSG2305|2|2