A Practical Guide to Computer Forensics Investigations

This authoritative, intensely practical guide to computer forensics draws upon the author's extensive experience in law enforcement, including his pioneering work as a forensics examiner in both criminal and civil investigations.

Writing for students and law enforcement professionals at all levels, Dr. Darren Hayes presents comprehensive best practices for capturing evidence, analyzing it, protecting the chain of custody, documenting investigations, and more.

A Practical Guide to Computer Forensics Investigations presents more hands-on activities and case studies than any previous book of its kind. Hayes thoroughly explains today's latest technologies and technical challenges, and presents detailed chapters on crucial topics that most competitive books cover only briefly, if at all: mobile forensics, Mac forensics, cyberbullying, and child endangerment.

Dr. Darren R. Hayes is a leading expert in the field of digital forensics and computer security. He is the director of cybersecurity and an assistant professor at Pace University, and he has been named one of the Top 10 Computer Forensics Professors by Forensics Colleges.

Hayes has served on the board of the High Technology Crime Investigation Association (HTCIA), Northeast Chapter, and is the former president of that chapter. He also established a student chapter of the HTCIA at Pace University.

During his time at Pace University, Hayes developed a computer forensics track for the school’s bachelor of science in information technology degree. He also created a computer forensics research laboratory, where he devotes most of his time to working with a team of students in computer forensics and, most recently, the burgeoning field of mobile forensics. As part of his research and promotion of this scientific field of study, he has fostered relationships with the NYPD, N.Y. State Police, and other law enforcement agencies. He also organized a successful internship program at the cybercrime division of the New York County D.A. Office and the Westchester County D.A. Office.

Hayes is not only an academic, however—he is also a practitioner. He has been an investigator on both civil and criminal investigations and has been called upon as an expert for a number of law firms. In New York City, Hayes has been working with six to eight public high schools to develop a curriculum in computer forensics. He collaborates on computer forensics projects internationally and has served as an extern examiner for the MSc in Forensic Computing and Cybercrime Investigation degree program at University College Dublin for four years.

Hayes has appeared on Bloomberg Television and Fox 5 News and been quoted byAssociated Press, CNN, Compliance Week, E-Commerce Times, The Guardian (UK), Investor’s Business Daily, MarketWatch, Newsweek, Network World, Silicon Valley Business Journal, USA Today, Washington Post, andWired News. His op-eds have been published by American Banker’s BankThink and The Hill’s Congress Blog. In addition, he has authored a number of peer-reviewed articles in computer forensics, most of which have been published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Hayes has been both an author and reviewer for Pearson Prentice Hall since 2007.