15-498 Term Project: Forensic Tools

Dates

Overview

This lab asks you to construct a novel forensics tool, from the ground up. It must include an agile, convenient user interface. It must also include report generation sufficient for real-world use.

Group Size and Team Registration

This lab is to be done in groups of "about" 4 people. You are welcome to work in larger groups -- but expectations will be scaled up accordingly. You are also welcome to work in smaller groups -- but expectations will not be scaled down. You register your team by including the names of all team members as authors of your proposal when you submit it.

The Tool and the Proposal

The goal of this project is to build a novel tool -- something that isn't out in the field, yet. In class, I gave you three ideas, based upon tools I have in my private collection, that I use in my own consulting practice. You are encouraged to consider these -- and your own interests.

Just keep in mind, by the end of the semester, we're looking for novel, usable tools, not half cobbled together stuff. Pick your problem, and have fun with it.

Regardless, I'd like for your proposal to (a) describe what you are going to build, (b) include "Photoshopped" screen prototypes or simulated reports, as necessary to communicate the ideas, (c) include a set of checkpoints you expect to meet along the way, and (d) include the name of each team member as an author of the proposal

This is just a proposal -- everything can change. We just need to talk about it, as it does.

Open Source?

At the end of the semester, I'd like you to release your tools as Open Source projects -- and make a difference in the real world. If you object to this, that's probably okay. But, we should talk about it. And, for the record, I'm not signing an NDA :-)

I'd really like to see these tools included in SleuthKit, or something similar, and also get noticed on the Forensics Portal. There's also a decent chance of papers being published in one of the forensics journals.

Many tool authors start out with an open Source version, get feedback -- and make later versions, extra features, or support paid products and services.

We're Here to Help!

This lab is designed to be a team exercise, where you lean hard on each other. But, if you -group- becomes -stuck-, or, gets -behind- please do get help from the course staff. We want you to be resourceful -- but we want you to be productive.