Windows Digital Forensics and Artifact Analysis

When a security incident occurs, the Windows operating system leaves behind a trail of digital breadcrumbs. Understanding how to find and interpret these hidden artifacts is the key to reconstructing events and solving complex forensic cases. This text-based course guides you from foundational digital forensics concepts to practical artifact analysis. You will learn how to extract, analyze, and authenticate evidence from Windows environments, enabling you to build a clear timeline of user activity and system events. What you'll learn: 1. Understand the core principles of digital forensics and chain of custody. 2. Locate and analyze key registry hives to uncover system configurations and user preferences. 3. Extract evidence from modern Windows artifacts, including event logs, prefetch files, and Shellbags. 4. Reconstruct user activity by analyzing browser history, file access, and USB device connections. 5. Identify signs of anti-forensics techniques and verify the integrity of recovered data. 6. Apply structured methodology to document findings and present reliable forensic evidence. The course begins with essential forensic terminology and standards, before guiding you step-by-step through the process of analyzing the registry, file system, and modern Windows artifacts. You will practice applying these concepts through written scenarios and structured analysis exercises. This course is designed for aspiring digital forensic examiners, IT security professionals, and beginners looking to enter the field of incident response, with no prior forensics experience required. Start your journey into digital forensics and unlock the secrets hidden within the Windows operating system.