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EC-Council Certified Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (C|HFI)
Digital attacks are dynamic, and their traces are often hidden. What matters most is the ability to systematically collect, interpret, and contextualize data. The course content combines cutting-edge technologies with proven forensic methods.
Key Topics
- Securing and analyzing digital evidence
- Investigation of cyberattacks and incidents
- Forensic analysis of networks and systems
- Dealing with obfuscation techniques
- Legally compliant evaluation and reporting
Prerequisites
Fundamentals of IT security and system understanding
Target Audience
Cybersecurity teams, IT forensic experts, technical auditors
Digital forensics is becoming an indispensable discipline for modern organizations. Those who can identify and correctly interpret digital traces strengthen security, transparency, and the ability to act in a connected world.
Course Content
Foundations of Computer Forensics
- Grasp the fundamentals and concepts of computer forensics
- Learn how cybercrime is investigated
- Understand digital evidence and its significance
- Understand forensic readiness, incident response, and the SOC role in forensics
- Define the roles and responsibilities of forensic investigators
- Analyze the challenges of cybercrime investigations
- Know the legal requirements governing computer forensics
Phases of a Forensic Investigation
- Follow the forensic investigation process and its importance
- Prepare and conduct the preliminary investigation phase
- Initiate a structured initial response
- Carry out the investigation phase methodically
- Complete and document the post-investigation phase
Drives, File Systems, and Boot Processes
- Distinguish between drive types and their characteristics
- Explain the logical layout of a hard drive
- Understand the boot processes of Windows, Linux, and macOS
- Compare and categorize file systems across operating systems
- Perform file system analysis using Autopsy and The Sleuth Kit
- Know the structure and function of storage systems
- Apply encoding standards and hex editors in a forensic context
- Forensically examine file formats using a hex editor
Data Acquisition and Image Creation
- Know the fundamentals of forensic data acquisition
- Apply data acquisition methodology systematically
- Create forensic image files and prepare them for analysis
Detecting and Countering Anti-Forensics
- Understand anti-forensic methods and their effects
- Analyze data deletion and Recycle Bin forensics
- Apply file carving to recover evidence from deleted partitions
- Investigate password cracking and bypass methods
- Uncover steganography, trace obfuscation, and file anomalies
- Forensically capture artifact deletion, metadata manipulation, and encryption
- Identify program packers and trace-minimization techniques
- Apply countermeasures against anti-forensics effectively
Windows Memory, Registry, and Log Analysis
- Preserve volatile and persistent Windows data
- Forensically analyze memory and the registry
- Evaluate browser cache, cookies, and browsing history
- Forensically examine Windows files and metadata
- Use ShellBags, LNK files, and Jump Lists in forensic investigations
- Analyze text-based logs and Windows event logs
Forensic Analysis on Linux and macOS
- Preserve volatile and persistent Linux data for forensic use
- Analyze file system images using The Sleuth Kit
- Conduct memory forensics with Volatility and PhotoRec
- Understand the specifics of macOS forensics
Network Forensics and Incident Analysis
- Know the principles and methods of network forensics
- Describe logging basics and forensic network readiness
- Apply event correlation in network analysis
- Detect and evaluate IoCs from network protocols
- Forensically examine network traffic
- Detect security incidents using SIEM tools
- Monitor and forensically analyze wireless network attacks
Web Forensics and Web Attack Analysis
- Understand forensic investigation of web applications
- Forensically evaluate IIS logs
- Analyze Apache web server logs
- Know how IDS systems function in a forensic context
- Use WAF mechanisms for forensic analysis
- Identify and investigate web attacks on Windows servers
- Detect and categorize web application attack patterns
Dark Web and Tor Browser Forensics
- Know the structure and functioning of the Dark Web
- Detect Tor browser traces during forensic investigations
- Conduct a forensic analysis of the Tor browser
Database Forensics with MSSQL and MySQL
- Know the significance and methods of database forensics
- Determine data storage and evidence sources in MSSQL Server
- Preserve evidence data from MSSQL Server
- Forensically examine MSSQL databases
- Analyze MySQL architecture and the data directory structure
- Know the MySQL Information Schema and forensic utility tools
- Apply MySQL forensics to a WordPress database
Cloud Forensics with AWS and Azure
- Know cloud computing concepts for forensic purposes
- Understand the methods and specifics of cloud forensics
- Know AWS fundamentals in a forensic context
- Conduct forensic investigations of AWS security incidents
- Know Azure fundamentals for cloud forensics
- Forensically investigate security incidents in Azure
- Know forensic methods for containers and microservices
Email Forensics and Legal Foundations
- Know email infrastructure fundamentals for forensic analysis
- Detect email crimes and carry out investigation steps
- Know the legal frameworks applicable to email crime
Static and Dynamic Malware Analysis
- Identify malware types and distribution techniques
- Know the fundamentals of malware forensics and analysis types
- Conduct static malware analysis
- Examine suspicious documents (Word, PDF) for malware
- Understand the principles and methods of dynamic malware analysis
- Observe malware behavior on system properties in real time
- Analyze network-based malware behavior in real time
- Describe and categorize fileless malware attacks
- Forensically analyze fileless malware (Emotet)
Mobile Device Forensics for Android and iOS
- Know the relevance of mobile forensics in today's security landscape
- Describe the architecture and boot processes of Android and iOS
- Describe the mobile forensic process step by step
- Collect and evaluate data from mobile networks forensically
- Know the SIM file system and its data acquisition methods
- Assess device locks, rooting, and jailbreaking in a forensic context
- Perform logical data backups on Android and iOS
- Perform physical data backups on mobile devices
- Discuss challenges in mobile forensics and create investigation reports
Forensic Investigation of IoT Devices
- Know the IoT ecosystem and common security challenges
- Identify and categorize IoT threats
- Know the methods and specifics of IoT forensics
- Preserve and examine IoT devices forensically
Up to 100% funding for your continuing education
Attractive funding opportunities are available for numerous continuing education programs – depending on the funding program, up to 100% funding is possible.
The requirement is that you live or work in Germany. Our funding opportunities are not available outside of Germany.
Funding opportunities are available for career starters, job seekers, career changers, startups, experienced professionals, those seeking career advancement, and specialists.
What concrete benefit does C|HFI offer professionally?
C|HFI demonstrates solid expertise in digital forensics – from evidence preservation to analysis – and opens pathways to roles in IT forensics, security, and incident response.
Which real-world problems does C|HFI help solve?
Reconstructing cyberattacks, preserving court-admissible evidence, and creating structured incident reports – skills organizations urgently need after security events.
What forensic tools are covered in the course?
The course provides hands-on experience with leading forensic tools for disk, network, and memory analysis – including case handling and reporting.
How application-oriented is C|HFI?
The course focuses on realistic scenarios: building chains of evidence, recovering data, and analyzing logs – skills ready to apply in everyday professional practice.
Why is digital forensics indispensable today?
Attacks are a daily reality – without sound forensics, data, money, and trust are lost. Professional incident analysis is the key to thorough investigation.
What can be realistically achieved after C|HFI?
Participants are able to independently analyze security incidents, collect evidence in a structured way, and produce reliable reports for teams or legal proceedings.
Who is C|HFI most suitable for?
Well-suited for IT security professionals, administrators, and analysts who want to move from reactive defense to active incident investigation.
What sets C|HFI apart from other security courses?
C|HFI focuses not on attack or defense, but on what follows: reading evidence, connecting the dots, and fully investigating incidents.
