Open Source Ecosystems

Digital Forensics Framework

Introduction
Installation 2.1 Windows 2.2 Linux
Usage
Support
Introduction

DFF is a simple but powerfull open source tool with a flexible module system which will help you in your digital forensics works, including files recovery due to error or crash, evidence research and analysis, etc. The source code is written in C++ and Python, allowing performances and great extensibility.

Although dff is quite young, it already provides a robust architecture and some handy modules. You could download and try it via the Dowload page. Source code, Debian packages and even windows setup are available. Any contribution, suggestion or remark is welcome ! (see 4. Support)

Nowadays computer forensic analysis tools are mainly large proprietary software developed by some well-known companies.

Few free and open source tools offers the same type of fully integrated software, most of them are implemented as stand alone tools. Although some framework exists, they are not very user or developer friendly. That is why we decided to develop this tool as a free and open source and multi-platform framework.

This project follows three main goals :

Modularity. In contrary to the monolithic model, the modular model is based on an a host and many modules. This modular conception presents two advantages : it permits to improve rapidly the software and to split easily tasks for developers
Scriptability, it is obvious that the ability to be scripted gives more flexibility to a tool, but it enables automation and gives the possibility to extend features
Genericity, the project tries to remain OS independent. We want to help people where they are ! Letting them choose any Operating System to use this software.

Installation

2.1 Windows

Python and Python QT have to be installed first. Web-page where Python should be downloaded : http://www.python.org/download/releases/2.6.4/. Web-page where Python QT should be downloaded : http://www.riverbankcomputing.co.uk/software/pyqt/download

DFF is provided with a Nullsoft installer. Users just have to launch it and follow instructions to install DFF.

2.2 Linux

Using distribution package :

RPM and DEB packages are provided on http://www.digital-forensic.org. Graphical helper from window manager can be used when double clicking on the package.

DEB installation from terminal : #> dpkg -i dff-.deb

RPM installation from terminal #> rpm -i dff-.rpm

Compiling from sources :

A GZipped tarball is also provided. Cmake and latest version of swig are needed (http://www.swig.org, developer have to compile and install the latest version himself). In the top-source tree type : $> cmake . It creates make files. To build type : $> make Install : #> make install Console Run : $> dff.py Graphical Run : $> dff.py -g

Usage

DFF reads a disk dump (for example from GNU 'dd' utils). Two user interfaces are provided ; graphical and console. Command-line console also sits in graphical as well.

Graphical : Click on the 'File' menu and select 'Add dump'. Right-click on the dump, in the 'Files' tab, select 'Open with' and apply a filesystem module ; select 'file system' and 'fat' for example. Files appears in the 'Virtual File System' tab. Many informations are provided under 'log' and 'info' tabs.

Console : Opening a local folder : dff / > local --path /home/user/dumps --parent /

--path is the directory to open --parent is a virtual node, first specify the root one : /

Applying fat module on a dump : dff / > fat dumps/test.fat.dd

Listing nodes : dff / > ls

Completion is provided using the key. User can obtain help using : dff / > man

Support

Online chat is on an IRC channel : #digital-forensic on irc.freenode.net network.

Main website : http://www.digital-forensic.org .

3 mailing lists are provided :

User discussions about DFF : [email protected], registration and
posting freely available.
Developers discussions about DFF : [email protected],
registration and posting freely available.
News about DFF releases and event : [email protected],
registration freely available, low level traffic.

Archives of this mailing lists : http://lists.digital-forensic.org

A project manager exists at http://tracker.digital-forensic.org , ideas and bug submited by e-mail will be reported on it.

Documentation sits on http://wiki.digital-forensic.org.