Memory Forensics Basics
Learn memory forensics basics by analyzing the evidence that exists only while a system is running. Some of the most valuable incident response data, including active processes, live network connections, plaintext secrets, and in-memory malware artifacts, never reaches disk in a useful form. This course teaches you how to capture memory, perform quick triage, and use Volatility to investigate volatile evidence more systematically.
Why It Matters
Memory forensics is often the fastest way to understand an active compromise. Disk artifacts show what was left behind, but RAM can reveal what is happening right now or what just happened moments before capture. That makes memory analysis especially important for incident response and malware triage.
This course focuses on practical volatile evidence handling. You will capture a memory image, search it quickly for obvious indicators, and then use Volatility to extract process and network information that supports deeper analysis.
What You Will Learn
- Capture memory from a live system while preserving volatile evidence.
- Perform quick triage on raw memory with simple command-line tools.
- Use Volatility to inspect processes, connections, and hidden activity.
- Understand what types of evidence are most likely to appear only in RAM.
- Investigate live incidents with a clearer memory-analysis workflow.
Course Roadmap
- Memory Extraction: Capture a memory image from a live system.
- Analyzing Memory with Strings: Use fast triage techniques to surface obvious indicators from raw memory.
- Introduction to Volatility: Apply Volatility plugins to inspect process and network evidence.
- Live Triage Challenge: Capture and analyze memory during an active incident to identify hidden malicious activity.
Who This Course Is For
- Learners moving from disk forensics into live incident triage.
- Incident responders who need an introduction to memory analysis workflows.
- Security analysts investigating malware, hidden processes, or volatile network activity.
Outcomes
By the end of this course, you will be able to capture and inspect volatile memory evidence, extract meaningful process and network indicators, and use memory analysis to strengthen incident response investigations.
