Overview
This advanced unit provides students with a broad understanding of electronic crime and digital forensics in investigations of electronic criminal activities. This multi-disciplinary unit covers areas of computer and Internet technology, electronic crime, digital forensics procedures and tools, methods of using digital evidence in justice and legal issues in digital forensics. Completion of this unit enables students to pursue careers and further study in this relatively new profession.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: (COIT11233 or COIT11238) and (COIT13147 or COIT12206)
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2017
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Students feedback
Weekly quizzes need reminder if not attempted within the deadline.
In our next offering, we may incorporate a reminder on last day of due date.
Feedback from Students feedback
Assignment 2 uses a real scenario but requirements need more detail
In our next offering, assignment two requirements should include more detail to assist students further.
Feedback from Students feedback
Broader focus of lab tools to cater tools from operating systems other than windows
We may incorporate some Linux based tool in our future offerings, if our lab facilities support it.
- Define electronic crime and digital forensics.
- Describe the role of digital forensic professionals in investigation and prevention of electronic crime in business environments.
- Apply a systematic approach to a digital investigation.
- Explain the procedures required for the capture, recording and analysis of events in digital forensic investigations.
- Appraise the legal issues involved in a forensic investigation and in current professional forensic practice.
- Prepare a design and report for a digital forensic investigation.
Australian Computer Society (ACS) recognises the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA). SFIA is in use in over 100 countries and provides a widely used and consistent definition of ICT skills. SFIA is increasingly being used when developing job descriptions and role profiles.
ACS members can use the tool MySFIA to build a skills profile at https://www.acs.org.au/professionalrecognition/mysfia-b2c.html
This unit contributes to the following workplace skills as defined by SFIA. The SFIA code is included:
- Network Support (NTAS)
- Problem Management (PBMG)
- Data Analysis (DTAN)
- System Design (DESN)
- Service Desk and Incident Management (USUP)
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - In-class Test(s) - 20% | ||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||
| 3 - Examination - 50% | ||||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - In-class Test(s) - 20% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Examination - 50% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
Guide to Computer Forensics and Investigations
Edition: 5th (2016)
Authors: B Nelson, A Phillips, C Steuart
Cengage Learning
Boston Boston , Massachusetts , USA
ISBN: 978-1-4354-9883-9
Binding: Paperback
Lab Manual for Guide to Computer Forensics and Investigations
Edition: 5th (2016)
Authors: A Blitz
Cengage Learning
Boston Boston , Massachusetts , USA
ISBN: 978-1-4354-9885-3
Binding: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
The "Lab Manual for Guide to Computer Forensics and Investigations 5th edition" is bundled with the prescribed textbook "Guide to Computer Forensics and Investigations 5th edition" from the bookstore.
Check that you have the Lab Manual to be used in workshop activities. Both books have accompanying CDs.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- AccessData Registry Viewer,
- Autopsy
- Computer forensic software and student data files (with "Lab Manual for Guide to Computer Forensics and Investigations (4th ed)" by A. Blitz)
- FTK Imager
- Mini-WinFE,
- OSForensics
- ProDiscover Basic
- WinHex
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
b.ray@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Understanding the Digital Forensics Profession and Investigations
Chapter
Chapter 1
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Forensic investigation examples and the Investigator’s Office and Laboratory
Chapter
Chapter 1 and Chapter 2
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1: online Moodle quiz 1 - all students
Module/Topic
Data Acquisition
Chapter
Chapters 3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1:online Moodle quiz 2 - all students
Module/Topic
Processing crime and incident scenes
Chapter
Chapter 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1:online Moodle quiz 3 - all students
Module/Topic
Digital forensics tools
Chapter
Chapter 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1:online Moodle quiz 4 - all students
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Understanding Windows, Linux and Macintosh Systems
Chapter
Chapter 5 and Chapter 7
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1:online Moodle quiz 5 - all students
Module/Topic
Recovering Graphic Files
Chapter
Chapter 8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1:online Moodle quiz 6 - all students
Module/Topic
Digital Forensics Analysis and Validation
Chapter
Chapters 9
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1:online Moodle quiz 7 - all students
Module/Topic
Virtual Machine Forensics, Live Acquisitions, and Network Forensics
E-mail and Social Media Investigations
Chapter
Chapters 10 and Chapter 11
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1:online Moodle quiz 8 - all students
Module/Topic
Mobile Device Forensics
Chapter
Chapter 12
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 2 :
Practical and Written Assessment - investigate a digital case using Digital Forensic tools and report your findings Due: Week 10 Friday (22 Sept 2017) 11:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Cloud Forensics and Report writing
Chapter
Chapters 13 and Chapter 14
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1:online Moodle quiz 9 - all students
Module/Topic
Ethics and Final Exam review
Chapter
Chapter 16 and exam advice
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1:online Moodle quiz 10 - all students
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 3: Examination, All Students
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Welcome to Term 2 2017!
During the term, if you are enrolled in a campus class, please contact the respective conducting lead lecturer on that campus with your questions. Their Unit Contact details are found on the unit page on Moodle ("Information" box, top left column). Distance students should contact me if you have any questions which are not suitable to be asked through the unit forums.
There is much reading to cover during the term, so you are encouraged to get your recommended textbook early, and not miss any classes and assessments. I look forward to your active participation in class and through the forums.
Have an enjoyable term!
Dr. Biplob Ray (b.ray@cqu.edu.au) Unit Coordinator - T2, 2017 COIT12201 Electronic Crime and Digital Forensics
Ph: +61 7 4037 4734 | X 54734
1 In-class Test(s)
The weekly Online Moodle Quizzes are to complement the theoretical knowledge learned from the lecture/textbook. It provides students with practice exercises in the weekly tutorial/workshop related to the coverage of lecture notes.
- There are 10 weekly Online Moodle Quizzes scheduled in the tutorials/workshops from week 2 to week 9 and week 11 to week 12
- In each tutorial/workshop, students are required to firstly complete their hands-on lab exercises using the computer forensics software available in the designated lab (or downloaded from the unit Website on Moodle and/or installed in your laptop), and then answer a few questions relevant to weekly content to completed exercises.
- Each test is worth 2 marks.
- The test is open book implying that the students are allowed to consult the prescribed textbook, lab manual, lecture notes, and notes prepared by the student.
- There may be a time limit to finish the test.
For on-campus students, you are expected to finish the test under the supervision of your lecturer or tutor during the tutorial/workshop. No discussion or interaction between the students is allowed.
Distance students - you should consult the unit coordinator during week one for a mutually agreed means (a specific day and time) for this assessment.
More detail instructions regarding the test will be provided weekly on the unit Website on Moodle during the term.
From week 2 to week 9 and week 11 to week 12 each week online via Moodle
From week 2 to week 9 and week 11 to week 12 each week online via Moodle
The students are assessed mainly against their ability to:
1. understand weekly content covered in lecture.
2. identify link between lecture content and lab activities
3. determine the best course of action for a specific investigation scenario
- Define electronic crime and digital forensics.
- Describe the role of digital forensic professionals in investigation and prevention of electronic crime in business environments.
- Apply a systematic approach to a digital investigation.
- Explain the procedures required for the capture, recording and analysis of events in digital forensic investigations.
- Appraise the legal issues involved in a forensic investigation and in current professional forensic practice.
- Prepare a design and report for a digital forensic investigation.
- Problem Solving
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Written Assessment
This assessment is divided into two parts:
Part A: Practical (Hand-on) investigation (50%)
Part B: Write a report detailing your practical investigation in Part A and findings/outcome/conclusion/assessment based on this investigation (50%)
The assessment requires you to
- investigate a case using digital forensic tools that you are legally allowed to use
- write a report that will detail your investigation process, tools, and techniques
- analyses the case based on your investigation and present your findings/outcome/conclusion/assessment in the report
- detail the legal and ethical issues involved in a forensic investigation,
Details about this assessment are available on Moodle.
Week 10 Friday (22 Sept 2017) 11:00 pm AEST
Online via Moodle
Review/Exam Week Friday (13 Oct 2017)
Online via Moodle
The students are assessed mainly against their ability to:
1. apply the digital forensics methodologies
2. identify right tools and techniques
3. report the finding in a clear and cohesive manner
4. identify legal and ethical issues relevant to the investigation
5. conduct investigation by adhering the legal and ethical issues
- Define electronic crime and digital forensics.
- Describe the role of digital forensic professionals in investigation and prevention of electronic crime in business environments.
- Apply a systematic approach to a digital investigation.
- Explain the procedures required for the capture, recording and analysis of events in digital forensic investigations.
- Appraise the legal issues involved in a forensic investigation and in current professional forensic practice.
- Prepare a design and report for a digital forensic investigation.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
Examination
Dictionary - non-electronic, concise, direct translation only (dictionary must not contain any notes or comments).
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
