DFCS 635 is a three-credit course at the University of Maryland Global Campus with prerequisites DFCS 605 and DFCS 615.
UMGC describes a project-based study of how to identify, analyze and respond to attacks on Linux-based operating systems, building forensic analysis and incident response skills with tools that discover evidence of advanced persistent threats and other attacks.
Credit may be received for only one of DFC 620 or DFCS 635. The course mixes defense and investigation, so students switch between thinking like a defender and like an examiner.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) |
| Code and title | DFCS 635 Linux Forensics and Security |
| Credits | 3 |
| Prerequisites | DFCS 605 and DFCS 615 |
| Credit note | Credit for only one of DFC 620 or DFCS 635 |
| Format | Project-based |
What DFCS 635 Covers
| Topic (from UMGC) | In plain language |
|---|---|
| Intrusion detection and prevention | Spotting and blocking suspicious activity |
| Log aggregation and analysis | Collecting logs centrally and searching them for evidence |
| Virtualization | Using virtual machines for analysis and containment |
| Operating system hardening | Reducing attack surface through configuration |
| Penetration testing | Testing defenses to find weaknesses |
| Linux file systems | How files, permissions and metadata are stored |
Key Concepts Explained
Reading Linux Logs
Authentication, system and service logs record logons, privilege use and errors. Repeated failed logons followed by a success from the same address is a classic pattern worth following up.
Illustrative pattern: Fifty failed SSH logons from one address in two minutes, then a successful logon, then a new user account created and a scheduled job added. Each log line becomes a row in a timeline that tells the story.
Hardening
Hardening removes unneeded services, applies least privilege, restricts remote access and keeps software updated. Explain what each change prevents.
Persistence
Advanced threats try to survive reboots, using scheduled jobs, startup scripts or altered accounts. Checking these locations is a standard part of an investigation.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
| Assignment type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Log analysis project | Finding evidence across logs | Normalize times, then build a timeline |
| Hardening exercise | Secure configuration | Document before and after settings |
| Penetration test report | Methodical testing and reporting | Only test systems you are authorized to test, and record scope |
| Incident response report | Response and recovery steps | Describe detection, containment, eradication and lessons |
Where Students Get Stuck
- Command-line fluency. Practice common commands until they are routine.
- Unscoped testing. Stay within the authorized environment.
- Isolated evidence. Tie each finding to others in a timeline.
- Vague hardening. State the setting, the threat and the effect.
Planning Your Work
| Stage | Do this | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Prepare | Set up the virtual environment | Working lab notes |
| Investigate | Collect and review logs | Timeline |
| Harden | Apply and test settings | Change record |
| Report | Findings and recommendations | Report |
Snapshots in a virtual machine let you test safely and return to a known state. Note when you take them.
A Linux Triage Checklist to Build
| Area | What to look at |
|---|---|
| Accounts | New or changed users, groups, sudo rules |
| Authentication logs | Failed and successful logons, source addresses |
| Persistence | Scheduled jobs, startup scripts, services |
| Processes and network | Unexpected processes and listening ports |
| Files | Recently modified files in system and home directories |
A checklist keeps you systematic under time pressure. Always record the command or tool you used and its output, so someone else can repeat your steps.
Remember the order of volatility. Running processes and network connections vanish at shutdown, so if a live system is in scope, capture them before turning it off, and note that your actions may change the system.
Finally, practice explaining hardening choices in terms of threats. "Disable password logons over SSH and require keys" is an action; "this removes the guessing attack seen in the logs" is the reasoning that earns marks.
Final Checks Before Submitting
Confirm that every command in your report is shown with its output, that testing stayed within the authorized scope, and that each hardening change lists the setting, the threat and the effect. Add a short lessons-learned paragraph, since incident response work usually ends with improvements.
If you used snapshots, state when they were taken and what state they restored to, so a reader can follow your sequence.
Study Tips for DFCS 635
- Learn Linux permission notation and what each bit allows.
- Keep a log-source cheat sheet: file, content, what to look for.
- Write each finding as claim, evidence, limits.
- Review hashing and imaging from DFCS 615.
How We Help with DFCS 635
Send the assignment, rubric, notes and feedback. We can explain concepts, prepare custom reports using hypothetical data, or review your own report for clarity and structure. We do not log in to course or lab environments, and our help is for legitimate, authorized study only.
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Frequently Asked Questions
DFCS 605 and DFCS 615.
Three credits.
Credit may be received for only one of DFC 620 or DFCS 635.
Intrusion detection and prevention, log analysis, virtualization, OS hardening, penetration testing and Linux file systems.
Yes, UMGC describes it as a project-based study.
DFCS 625 focuses on Windows; DFCS 635 focuses on Linux-based systems.