Easy Retrieval of Data from Hard Disk Drives - Term Paper Example

Software Development Project – Easy Retrieval of Data from Hard Disk Drives Table of Content I. Introduction II. The proposed project of computer forensics III. The objectives and what the project intends to deliver IV. Target customer base V. Business or technical needs that will be met by the project VI. The boundaries of the project- what the project will not address VII. Detailed implementation of the project VIII. The coding standards IX. Version control policy X. List of the necessary hardware components requirements for the user XI. An estimate of timeline completion of the project XII. Significant risks that may impact the project XIII. Conclusion and justification of the project XIV. References I. Introduction Computer forensics deals with the identification of any legal evidence using the computers, as well as other forms of digital storage devices. After collecting, the evidences are put through a thorough forensics examination to obtain and recover the information the investigators need. The computer forensic investigation chiefly involves the investigation of the computer crimes, the cyber crimes, and also during a court hearing. Subsequently, there is utilization of the later function of computer forensic investigation by the courts of the United States and also of the European Union as evidence of digital crime cases (Volonino & Anzaldua, 2009). II. The Proposed Project of Computer Forensics The proposed project is based on a software program that can easily retrieve any specific data from the hard disk drive of any computer. This is because the hard disk acts as a form of storage device for the computer. Thus, there is storage of most data and also files in this hardware device. Moreover, for any forensic investigator to obtain any sort of digital evidence, they must first look for the details from the computer hard disk. Therefore, the hard disk is one of the chief vital components of the computer because it contains most of the computers’ files, data and also important documents. Consequently, there is a great significant in the development of a software program for easy and quick retrieval of data contained in the hard disk. Moreover this project of computer forensic works in conjunction with the software of data recovery program. The data recovery program works by recovering any form of lost data by the computer (Volonino & Anzaldua, 2009). III. The Objectives and what the Project Intends to Deliver The main reason for the development of this computer forensic project is to assist in the quick and effective investigation procedures required during a forensic investigation. For instance, the main part of the computer forensic is chiefly the utilization of the computer hard disk to access any information. This is because hard disks are capable of storing large amount of information about anything. Therefore, because the computer hard disk is capable of storing millions of data on anything, it becomes very tedious for the forensic investigator to search for the exact data that is needed for the investigation (Volonino & Anzaldua, 2009). Moreover, this action needs a lot of time and thus consumes time. Therefore, for the investigator to be competent and to easily access all the details from the hard disk, the forensic investigator needs to implement this computer forensic project. Thus, the chief reason for the development of this computer forensic project is to assist the investigators in easing the procedures of the investigation. Therefore, the computer project is about how the forensic investigator is capable of obtaining and easily retrieves data from any hard disk of a computer system to be utilized in the investigation procedures. The investigator will find this project extremely helpful to him and also to the court when handling any form of forensic cases. Thus the project focuses majorly o the improvement of the hard disk devices. Additionally, this project will focus on the fundamental process of retrieving information from a given hard disk device. Thus it will utilize programs like the ASCII coding systems and other forensic tools (Huebner, 2010). IV. Target Customer Base The main objective of this project of computer forensics is targeting mainly the clients. It majorly aims at assisting the parties involved in any form of forensic investigation. For instance, it focuses on the forensic investigators, the clients, and also the court and the authorities’ involved during the process of forensic investigations. This project chiefly targets the forensic investigators because they tend to use the computers to access any form of digital information. Thus, the investigators will find this program helpful in their field during the forensic investigation process. For instance, the forensic investigators are capable of retrieving digital information which they can use during hearing of the court cases (Huebner, 2010). V. Business or Technical needs that will be met by the Project The computer forensic project is further designed to meet all the needs that will enable efficient procedures during the forensic investigation. This project will subsequently make the process of forensic investigation to be extraordinarily easier and also faster. Thus the investigator will be able to take lesser time in the procedures involved in collecting of forensic evidences, presenting of the details and furthermore in writing of the final reports. Additionally, the software will enable the investigator to access all the data in the computer. Additionally, the project will enable the forensic investigators to obtain the required evidences without much difficulty. More over the investigators have an assurance that the evidence obtained are not to be compromised or even altered at any time, thus the evidences are competent and ready for use during court proceedings (Huebner, 2010). VI. The Boundaries of the Project- what the Project will not Address Although the computer forensic project is aimed at delivering an effective means of solving al the problems faced during the forensic investigation, there are some of the drawbacks that the project will not be capable of achieving. These setbacks include the accessing of information only contained in the hard disk alone and not in the other storage devices of a computer (Huebner, 2010). VII. Detailed Implementation of the Project There are numerous procedures in which this technique can be effectively implemented. For instance, one of the techniques that can be implemented is the utilization of a coding standard. The project will further entail application of various techniques that will be capable of recognizing both the structured and the unstructured data in the hard disk. This project works through the identification and also the removal of systems and files that are available in the computer in duplicate forms. Secondly, the user is given a chance to try and insert or even remove any part of the hard disk. Subsequently, the investigator tries to identify any region of the hard disk that might be containing any form of textual data for instance the ASCII. Later on, the investigator who is also the user of the software is to index the hard disk by utilizing the appropriate tool. Eventually, the user presents a familiar and a friendlier and also a more powerful interface to search the hard disk (Solomon, Rudolph, Tittel, Broom, & Barrett, 2011). VIII. The Coding Standards This coding standard includes the use of a unique naming system of conventions, the style of the coding system. The project utilizes the coding system of ASCII. This coding system is significant to this project because it works by converting the analog into the digital form and furthermore it converts the digital to the analog forms (Mohay, 2003). IX. Version Control Policy The project uses a version control policy that ensures that there is easy conversion of information from one form to the other. This act enables the project to work effectively through the implementation of a given set of software program (Mohay, 2003). X. List of the Necessary Hardware Components Requirements for the User While carrying out this computer forensic procedure, there are necessary hardware components that ought to be utilized by the user to attain the required outcome. Some of the hardware is the hard disk, the control unit, also the keyboard, the mouse, and also the monitor, the power supply system (Maras, 2012). Moreover, the scheme enables the utilization of a variety of tools for the data analysis. The software comprises of an ample digital forensic tools specifically created for use by the hard drive. These tools are utilized majorly to examine the hard disk drives of the computer. Some of these tools include the chat examiner, also the e-mail examiner, the network examiner, and also the text searcher, the registry analyzer, and also the forensic sorter. For instance, the forensic sorter is utilized in the sorting of the entire sections of a give hard disk of the computer. This action happens when the tool sorts all the files contained in the selected hard disk drive. Thus some of the files that the tool is competent in sorting are the documents, the images in the hard drive, as well as the archive. Moreover there is the tool of forensic replicator. This tool works by completing all the bit acquisition in the hard drive systems. Additionally, there is the passware kit for the forensic purposes. This one works through the breakage of passwords for the encrypted files in the hard drive of a computer. Subsequently, there is the explorer free tool that works by mounting any form of forensic images as an example of a virtual drive in computers. Finally, there is the lockdown tool that works by locking almost all the available hardware devices of the computer so as to offer adequate protection of all the evidences contained in the computer hard drive systems (Maras, 2012). XI. An Estimate of Timeline Completion of the Project The chief program that is the graphics programming is capable of searching the type of information that the investigator needs. The program accomplishes this task through searching of the required data according to the set timeline. Subsequently, the information tends to appear on the visualization section thus allowing the investigator to view the information he is looking for. The creation of a set of timeline is extremely essential in that it enables the investigator to find the essential details from the computer with ease. For instance, the data can be presented in a timeline through the utilization of pixels that will represent the events. Moreover, there is the timeline that is set to correspond with the time like hours or even minutes. Thus, the investigator is capable of visualizing the timeline in an easy manner (Maras, 2012). XII. Significant Risks that may Impact the Project Although this project has a significant importance to the user, it also displays some of the negative impacts and risks. For instance, there is the risk of the project being cracked down by the unauthorized individuals. The crackers might be capable of accessing private information of individuals stored in the hard disk (Maras, 2012). XIII. Conclusion and Justification of the Project In conclusion, this computer forensic project is of great importance in the field of forensic science. This is because the software enables the investigator to conduct the investigation process efficiently. This project further enables the forensic investigator to collect the required forensic evidences and analyze them comprehensively without compromising the integrity of the evidences. XIV. References Huebner, E. (2010). Open source software for digital forensics. New York, NY: Springer Publication Maras, M. (2012). Computer forensics: cybercriminals, laws, and evidence. Canada: James and Bartlett Publishers. Mohay, G. (2003). Computer and intrusion forensics. Massachusetts, MA: Artech House Publication. Solomon, M., Rudolph, K., Tittel, E., Broom, N., & Barrett, D. (2011). Computer forensics jumpstart. Indiana, IN: John Wiley and Sons Publication. Volonino, L., & Anzaldua, R. (2009). Computer forensics for dummies. 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