The Best Damn Cybercrime and Digital Forensics Book Period [Paperback]

Jack Wiles (Author), Anthony Reyes (Author), Jesse Varsalone (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 10, 2007 | ISBN-10: 1597492280 | ISBN-13: 978-1597492287 | Edition: 1

Electronic discovery refers to a process in which electronic data is sought, located, secured, and searched with the intent of using it as evidence in a legal case. Computer forensics is the application of computer investigation and analysis techniques to perform an investigation to find out exactly what happened on a computer and who was responsible. IDC estimates that the U.S. market for computer forensics will be grow from $252 million in 2004 to $630 million by 2009. Business is strong outside the United States, as well. By 2011, the estimated international market will be $1.8 billion dollars. The Techno Forensics Conference has increased in size by almost 50% in its second year; another example of the rapid growth in the market.

This book is the first to combine cybercrime and digital forensic topics to provides law enforcement and IT security professionals with the information needed to manage a digital investigation. Everything needed for analyzing forensic data and recovering digital evidence can be found in one place, including instructions for building a digital forensics lab.

* Digital investigation and forensics is a growing industry
* Corporate I.T. departments needing to investigate incidents related to corporate espionage or other criminal activities are learning as they go and need a comprehensive step-by-step guide to e-discovery
* Appeals to law enforcement agencies with limited budgets

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jack Wiles is a security professional with over 40 years' experience in security-related fields. This includes computer security, disaster recovery, and physical security. He is a professional speaker, and has trained federal agents, corporate attorneys, and internal auditors on a number of computer crime-related topics. He is a pioneer in presenting on a number of subjects, which are now being labeled "Homeland Security" topics. Well over 10,000 people have attended one or more of his presentations since 1988. Jack is also a co-founder and President of TheTrainingCo., and is in frequent contact with members of many state and local law enforcement agencies as well as Special Agents with the U.S. Secret Service, FBI, IRS-CID, U.S. Customs, Department of Justice, The Department of Defense, and numerous members of High-Tech Crime units. He was also appointed as the first President of the North Carolina InfraGard chapter, which is now one of the largest chapters in the country. He is also a founding member of the U.S. Secret Service South Carolina Electronic Crimes Task Force. Jack is also a Vietnam veteran who served with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam in 1967-68, where he was awarded two Bronze stars for his actions in combat. He recently retired from the U.S. Army Reserves as a lieutenant colonel and was assigned directly to the Pentagon for the final seven years of his career.

Anthony Reyes is a retired Detective with the New York City Police Department's Computer Crimes Squad. During his assignment with the Computer Crimes Squad, he investigated computer intrusion, fraud, identity theft, child exploitation, and software piracy. Detective Reyes previously sat as an alternate member of New York Governor George E. Pataki's Cyber-Security Task Force. Mr. Reyes is a member of the New York State Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce. He is also a member of the National Institute of Justice Electronic Crime Partnership Initiative (ECPI). Additionally, he is a member of the High Technology Crime Investigation Association (HTCIA), and served as the President in 2005 of the Association's Northeast Chapter.

Product Details

• Paperback: 736 pages
• Publisher: Syngress; 1 edition (December 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1597492280
• ISBN-13: 978-1597492287
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,220,198 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars They gilded the lily a bit, and the editing was atrocious, July 28, 2008

By 

Blackbird Crow Raven "Blackbird Crow Raven" (Oconomowoc, WI USA (but my heart is in the gold rush country of Northern California)) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Best Damn Cybercrime and Digital Forensics Book Period (Paperback)

This book has a lot of good info in it, but the editing was spotty at best, and all too often downright terrible.

Also, the first page of the book says that when you register it, you can "access our [e-mail] Web pages. There you may find an assortmnet of valueadded features such as free e-books related to the topic of this book."

Maybe what they mean by, "...you may find..." is that you MIGHT find those things. In this case, I found no such thing.

While I wouldn't say the book was a waste of money or time, some of the editing was so bad I feel compelled to provide specific examples:

1) p. 260:
It says "Psychical Memory" where it should say "Physical Memory"

-OK, the laugh I got thereby made this mistake more enjoyable than irritating.

2) p. 377:
"It will read image files created with ICS, SafeBack, and forensic software "forensic software" as meant? and uncompressed images created with Ghost..."

-Looks like somebody's interim notes were left in the document, or...?

3) P. 378:
Exercise 4.3 is mentioned, but I could not find an Exercise 4.3 in that chapter.

4) p. 509:
"The boot directory contains a static foals knitted by the boot loader."

-What in the world are "foals knitted"? Baby horses created by a needleworker? Did they mean "files needed"? Was somebody typing this from a recording made by an author with a strong southern accent, or what?

5) p. 509:
"The etc directory contains consideration files which are local to the machine. Certain larger packages such as X11 have their own subdirectories with consideration files under /etc."

-I've never heard of "consideration" files, and they are mentioned TWICE! Presumably they mean "configuration" files, or...?

In view of the foregoing, I would have to say the book does not live up to its chest-thumping title. It's only mediocre, and so has no just cause to crow like that, claiming superiority over all of the other CF books.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Valuable introduction and resource on forensics, July 1, 2010

By 

Ben Rothke "Author of 'Computer Security: 20 ... (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Best Damn Cybercrime and Digital Forensics Book Period (Paperback)

Immediately after a crime takes place, police secure and cordon off the location. Even those not in law enforcement recognize the need to secure a crime scene to preserve the integrity of the forensic evidence. When it comes to digital forensics, many professionals do not have the same level of expertise in securing their own digital infrastructure.

This book, with the not-so-humble title of Best Damn Cybercrime and Forensics Book Period, is indeed a very good starting point to gain that requisite level of digital forensic knowledge. The book shows the reader just about everything he or she needs to know about the entire process of electronic discovery and digital forensics.

The book's 20 chapters cover the entire spectrum of the forensic process. The first several provide a high-level overview. Chapter six offers a thorough review of forensic software and hardware solutions. Additional chapters contain valuable details on investigations and analysis software, such as Windows and Linux, and routers and other technologies. The book concludes with chapters on BlackBerry devices and MP3 file issues.

The work shines in that it provides various insights from 19 different authors, all of whom have significant real-world experience. The downside is one of consistency--always a problem with collaborative works such as this--the fact that there are multiple authors generally means that some chapters are better written than others, and that is the case here.

While the book's title flirts with hubris (there are indeed better cybercrime and forensics books), it is nonetheless a valuable introduction and resource. Anyone looking to get a comprehensive overview of digital forensics will find this a rewarding read.