List of digital forensics tools explained

During the 1980s, most digital forensic investigations consisted of "live analysis", examining digital media directly using non-specialist tools. In the 1990s, several freeware and other proprietary tools (both hardware and software) were created to allow investigations to take place without modifying media. This first set of tools mainly focused on computer forensics, although in recent years similar tools have evolved for the field of mobile device forensics. This list includes notable examples of digital forensic tools.

Forensics-focused operating systems

Debian-based

Kali Linux is a Debian-derived Linux distribution designed for digital forensics and penetration testing, formerly known as BackTrack.^[1]
Parrot Security OS is a cloud-oriented Linux distribution based on Debian and designed to perform security and penetration tests, do forensic analysis, or act in anonymity. It uses the MATE Desktop Environment, Linux Kernel 4.6 or higher and it is available as a live lightweight installable ISO image for 32-bit, 64-bit and ARM processors with forensic options at boot, optimizations for programmers, and new custom pentesting tools.

Ubuntu-based

CAINE Linux is an ubuntu-based live CD/DVD. CAINE stands for Computer Aided INvestigative Environment.
PALADIN Linux is an ubuntu-based live CD/DVD. PALADIN is a non-persistant Xubuntu-based OS that comes preinstalled with a Toolkit of different forensic tools and applications.

Gentoo-based

Pentoo
Penetration Testing Overlay and Livecd is a live CD and Live USB designed for penetration testing and security assessment. Based on Gentoo Linux, Pentoo is provided both as 32-bit and 64-bit installable live CD. Pentoo also is available as an overlay for an existing Gentoo installation. It features packet injection patched wifi drivers, GPGPU cracking software, and many tools for penetration testing and security assessment. The Pentoo kernel includes grsecurity and PAX hardening and extra patches – with binaries compiled from a hardened toolchain with the latest nightly versions of some tools available.^[2]

Computer forensics

See main article: Computer forensics.

Name	Platform	License	Version	Description
	Windows,,		4.20	A digital forensics platform and GUI to The Sleuth Kit
	Windows	proprietary	n/a	A suite of tools for Windows developed by Microsoft
	Unix-like/Windows		1.3	Framework and user interfaces dedicated to digital forensics
	Windows, macOS	proprietary	1435	Set of tools for encrypted systems & data decryption and password recovery
	Windows	proprietary	21.1 CE	Digital forensics suite created by Guidance Software
	Windows	proprietary	8.0	Multi-purpose tool, FTK is a court-cited digital investigations platform built for speed, stability and ease of use.
	Windows	proprietary	5.3	Essential light weight tool to inspect any type data carrier, supporting a wide range of file systems, with advanced export functionality.
Netherlands Forensic Institute / Xiraf / HANSKEN	n/a	proprietary	n/a	Computer-forensic online service.
	Linux		2.3.0	Computer forensics framework for CF-Lab environment
		proprietary	2.0	GUI for The Sleuth Kit
			1.19	A suite of programs for Unix analysis
	Unix-like/Windows		4.12.0	A library of tools for both Unix and Windows
	n/a	proprietary	n/a	Bootable operating system

Memory forensics

See main article: memory forensics. Memory forensics tools are used to acquire or analyze a computer's volatile memory (RAM). They are often used in incident response situations to preserve evidence in memory that would be lost when a system is shut down, and to quickly detect stealthy malware by directly examining the operating system and other running software in memory.

Name	Vendor or sponsor	Platform	License<	-- Please only include tools that either a) have a stable, sourced Wikipedia article OR b) are cited from a reliable, independent (i.e. not the company website) source -->
	Volatile Systems	Windows and Linux	free (GPL)
	BlueRISC	Windows	proprietary

Mobile device forensics

See main article: mobile device forensics. Mobile forensics tools tend to consist of both a hardware and software component. Mobile phones come with a diverse range of connectors, the hardware devices support a number of different cables and perform the same role as a write blocker in computer devices.

Name	Platform	License	Version	Description
Cellebrite UFED	Windows	proprietary		Hardware/software package, specializes in mobile forensic extraction
	Windows	proprietary		Hardware/software package, specializes in deleted data

Software forensics

See main article: software forensics. Software forensics is the science of analyzing software source code or binary code to determine whether intellectual property infringement or theft occurred. It is the centerpiece of lawsuits, trials, and settlements when companies are in dispute over issues involving software patents, copyrights, and trade secrets. Software forensics tools can compare code to determine correlation, a measure that can be used to guide a software forensics expert.

Other

Platform	License	Version	Description<
Windows	free	n/a	Tool which automatically executes a set of user defined actions on detecting Microsoft's COFEE tool
Windows	proprietary	6.03	Anti-forensics software, claims to delete files securely
Windows	free	n/a	Database application for storing file hash signatures

Notes and References

Web site: Kali Linux Has Been Released!. 12 March 2013. 18 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130509043312/http://www.offensive-security.com/kali-distribution/kali-linux-released/. 9 May 2013. live.
Web site: Pentoo 2015 – Security-Focused Livecd based on Gentoo. 1 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180701164934/https://www.kitploit.com/2015/09/pentoo-2015-security-focused-livecd.html. 1 July 2018. live.