Making Image of A Laptop (Summary)

1.      Summary

A Forensic image is an exact copy of the hard drive. The objective is to capture the image of a hard disk bit by bit without changing even a shred of data. It should also copy the deleted data, including files that are left behind in swap and free space.

 

There are 2 types of the making image of a suspicious system.

1)    Cold copy: The system will be booted from USB sticker or DVD. And run the imager tool from the customized Linux system.

2)    Hot copy: The system installs the imager tool to make the image.

 

It is recommended to use “Cold copy” because the less changes on the suspicious system, the better.

However, in some circumstance, it is not possible to get a cold copy, hot copy can be used. And hot copy can also capture the volatile memory for analysis purpose.

 

Below introduces 3 tools. The first 2 tools are for “Cold Copy” and the last tool is for “Hot Copy”.

1)    Paladin Edge 64 (https://andyinmatrix.blogspot.com/2021/03/making-image-of-laptop.html )

2)    Kali Linux (https://andyinmatrix.blogspot.com/2022/01/making-image-of-laptop-part-2.html )

3)    FTK Imager (https://andyinmatrix.blogspot.com/2022/01/making-image-of-laptop-part-3.html )

Making Image of A Laptop (Part 1)

1.     Description

The first step of the incident response is to image the suspicious system and get the hash of the DD image, which can prove the status of the suspicious system don’t get any modifications. Keep in mind that the less changes on the suspicious system, the better.

2.     Requirement

1)    USB sticker, 8G or greater. It will be used to boot the system with a customized Linux to make the image.

2)    USB External hard drive. Recommend 1T or greater. It will be used to save the image.

3)    PALADIN EDGE 64 (Version 8.01) ISO (https://sumuri.com/product/paladin-edge-64-bit/). The tool is available for FREE. However, it is highly recommended a donation to support the project.

4)    Rufus 3.8 or later (https://rufus.ie/)

 

3.     Make a bootable USB Sticker with Paladin Edge tool

1)    On a test laptop (not the suspicious laptop), download Paladin Edge 64-bit ISO from https://sumuri.com/product/paladin-edge-64-bit/

2)    Download Rufus from https://rufus.ie/

3)    Insert the USB sticker. Run Rufus, select the device and ISO file (Boot selection), leave other options as default setting. Click “Start” button to start making the bootable USB.

 

4.     Make DD image of the suspicious system

DD file is a disk image file and replica of a hard disk drive. It is widely used on Forensics investigation.

Keep in mind that the less changes on the suspicious system, the better.

 

1)    Shutdown the suspicious computer or make it sleep as soon as possible to maintain the environment.

2)    Find out how to boot from a USB drive on the suspicious laptop. Different laptop might have different methods.

3)    Use the ThinkPad T480s as the example:

4)    Attach the USB sticker to the system via any available USB port.

5)    Power on the system. Press F12 immediately as the Thinkpad logo appears.

6)    There should be a pop-up menu with a list of choices. Select the USB drive using the arrow key and press Enter.

 

7)    The system should now boot from the USB sticker (if not, try to disable “secure boot” on BIOS setup).

 

8)    On the screen, select the first option: “Sumuri Paladin Live Session – Forensic Mode” and press Enter.

 

9)    Wait until the OS loaded. Connect the External Hard Disk to an available USB port.

10) Click the first icon “Paladin Toolbox” 

 

11) There might be a warning about the time synchronization. Adjust the host system time if needed. Click OK button to continue.

 

12) Click “Source” dropdown list, select the Laptop’s hard drive.

 

13) Click “Image Type” dropdown list, select “DD(RAW)”

 

14) Click “Destination” dropdown list, select the External Hard drive.

 

15) Enter the label name, and click “Start”

16) After image is done. Open the .log.hashes to check the hash

17) Now you have a DD image with the hash. You can mount it as read-only hard drive to perform the forensics.

Also refer to:

1)    Making Image of a laptop – Summary (https://andyinmatrix.blogspot.com/2022/01/making-image-of-laptop-summary.html )

2)    Paladin Edge 64 (https://andyinmatrix.blogspot.com/2021/03/making-image-of-laptop.html )

3)    Kali Linux (https://andyinmatrix.blogspot.com/2022/01/making-image-of-laptop-part-2.html )

4)    FTK Imager (https://andyinmatrix.blogspot.com/2022/01/making-image-of-laptop-part-3.html )