Placing the Suspect Behind the Keyboard: Using Digital Forensics and Investigative Techniques to Identify Cybercrime Suspects

by Brett Shavers

Placing the Suspect Behind the Keyboard is the definitive book on conducting a complete investigation of a cybercrime using digital forensics techniques as well as physical investigative procedures. This book merges a digital analysis examiner's work with the work of a case investigator in order to build a solid case to identify and prosecute cybercriminals. Brett Shavers links traditional investigative techniques with high tech crime analysis in a manner that not only determines elements of crimes, but also places the suspect at the keyboard. This book is a first in combining investigative strategies of digital forensics analysis processes alongside physical investigative techniques in which the reader will gain a holistic approach to their current and future cybercrime investigations.

Genres: Technical, Technology

320 pages, Paperback

First published December 19, 2012

About the author

I've had a fantastic career in law enforcement, starting in a municipal police agency (Renton WA PD) where I took on various roles. I was selected for detectives, later assigned to a state (VNET) task force, and then recruited to a federal (DHS) task force. Along the way, I was appointed as a bicycle patrol officer, SWAT officer, use-of-force instructor, undercover officer, and computer forensics examiner.

My cases spanned coast-to-coast in the USA. I even ventured outside the USA, working undercover and infiltrating international organized crime rings for various alphabet agencies in foreign countries. I’ve bought, sold, and seized tons of drugs, along with seizing hundreds of illegal firearms. I smuggled bulk currency across borders and assumed undercover roles as a drug trafficker, drug manufacturer, arms trafficker, human trafficker, and hit man. But rescuing children from trafficking after witnessing their tragedies made me cry. That changed me more than anything else I’ve ever done.

I’ve also been an adjunct instructor at the University of Washington’s Digital Forensics Program, qualified in courts as an expert witness, appointed as a Special Master, and consulted on digital forensic at every court level. I speak at lots of conferences, write blogs on digital forensics (www.brettshavers.com and www.dfir.training), am an honorary life member and former President of the Computer Technology Investigators Network (https://ctin.org/), and am a founding member of DFIR Review (https://dfrws.org/dfir-review/). I have worked on all kinds of criminal and civil cases, from harassment to national security matters. Of all my training and experiences, my most effective “teachers” have been those I wined and dined with while undercover.

And long, long ago, I served as an active-duty Corporal of Marines (I was in 2/3, for you Devil Dogs out there wondering). Now, I am but a humble member of the Marine Corps League and the Marine Corps Cyber Auxiliary.
You can find me rambling away at www.brettshavers.com.

Reviews

[C Wolfe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good starting point for those starting to get into forensics.