Evergreen Alliance Training Program for GIAC iOS and macOS Examiner (GIME)

Course Summary

his course is designed to provide you with the comprehensive techniques and skills needed to confidently address any Mac or iOS case. Through an immersive, hands-on learning experience, you will gain mastery in forensic analysis and incident response specifically tailored for Apple devices. The course goes beyond traditional investigative scenarios, delving into advanced topics like intrusion analysis and attacker tracking to ensure you are well-equipped to identify, understand, and respond to threats targeting Apple systems.

Key Knowledge and Skills You Will Develop:
Distinguishing macOS and iOS Devices
Gain a deep understanding of the unique characteristics of macOS and iOS, and learn how to tailor investigative techniques to suit each platform.

Leveraging Apple’s Ecosystem
Explore the interconnected nature of Apple devices and understand how their seamless integration can provide valuable artifacts and insights for investigations.

File System Domains and Data Organization
Learn how macOS and iOS organize data within file system domains and why understanding their structure is critical for locating evidence.

Temporal Analysis and Log Correlation
Master the art of correlating data files and logs to create a timeline of events, helping you uncover patterns of activity on a system.

User Activity Profiling
Develop skills to analyze system usage, identify frequently used applications, and uncover personal preferences to build a detailed user profile.

Backup and Encrypted Data Analysis
Discover how to locate and analyze backups, disk images, and other attached devices, as well as recover encrypted containers and FileVault volumes.

Password Recovery and Keychain Analysis
Learn techniques for recovering and cracking Mac passwords while analyzing keychain data for authentication and encryption keys.

Metadata and File Artifacts
Dive into macOS metadata, including Spotlight indexes, Time Machine snapshots, and Extended Attributes, to uncover hidden details about user behavior and system events.

Application Data Examination
Investigate internal databases of key applications such as Safari, Apple Mail, and more to extract meaningful evidence from user activity.

Communication Analysis
Uncover traces of communication through Messages, FaceTime, SSH, Screen Sharing, AirDrop, and other channels to understand user interactions and connections.

Intrusion and Malware Analysis
Develop the skills to detect and analyze signs of compromise or malicious activity on Apple devices, helping you identify and respond to security incidents.

APFS File System Mastery
Gain a deep understanding of the APFS file system and its significance. Practice parsing APFS structures manually using a hex editor and reference materials for advanced forensic analysis.

Apple Ecosystem Artifacts
Explore how devices like AirTags, VisionPro, Apple Watch, and HomeKit interact with macOS and iOS systems, leaving behind valuable forensic artifacts.