Windows prefetch files act like a system's memory for recently launched applications. These files store information about program executables, DLLs (Dynamic Link Libraries), and startup times. By analyzing Prefetch data, investigators can identify applications used in the past, even if attempts were made to remove them from the system. Prefetch entries can also reveal hidden programs that might not be readily apparent in other locations. This information is valuable for understanding user activity patterns, identifying installed software, and potentially uncovering attempts to hide malicious applications.
Shellbags, often associated with folder customization settings on Windows, hold more information than meets the eye. These hidden files store details about user preferences for folder views (icons, sorting), recent file access within those folders, and even timestamps for these interactions. Additionally, forensic techniques can be used to extract potentially hidden data associated with Shellbags, such as remnants of deleted files that were once displayed within those folders. Analyzing Shellbags can provide investigators with valuable insights into user activity within specific folders, identify recently accessed files, and potentially uncover attempts to conceal evidence by deleting files but keeping their shellbag entries intact.
While traditional forensics focuses on data stored on physical devices like hard drives and SSDs, memory forensics offers a unique perspective. It involves acquiring a "snapshot" of a computer's volatile RAM (Random Access Memory) content. This captured memory image can reveal valuable information about ongoing activity at the time of acquisition. By analyzing RAM, investigators can identify running processes, loaded malware (which might not have a permanent presence on disk), and recently accessed data that might have been erased from storage devices. Memory forensics plays a critical role in incident response scenarios and can provide crucial evidence for ongoing investigations.
LNK files, or shortcut files, are like digital breadcrumbs left behind by users. These files contain information about the target location they point to, whether it's a file, folder, or even a network resource. LNK files can also hold details about network connections used to access the target, and in some cases, might even contain remnants of deleted files they once pointed to (known as "orphaned LNK files"). By analyzing LNK files, investigators can establish timelines of user activity, identify potential points of compromise on a system (e.g., malicious network connections), and potentially recover information about deleted files that might be crucial for the investigation.
The Windows Registry is a hierarchical database that stores a vast amount of information about system configuration, user settings, software installations, and more. This data is organized into hives (files) that hold configuration settings for different parts of the operating system. By examining the Registry hives, investigators can uncover evidence of malware activity (e.g., suspicious registry entries created by malware), unauthorized changes made to system settings (e.g., modifications to user accounts or security policies), and even identify software that might have been uninstalled but left traces in the Registry. Analyzing the Registry requires understanding the structure and organization of Registry hives, along with knowledge of common malware techniques that leverage the Registry for persistence or to manipulate system behavior.
The Recycle Bin, often considered a temporary holding ground for unwanted files, can be a goldmine for forensic investigators. While deleted files might appear inaccessible to the user, forensic tools can leverage techniques like data carving and USN (Update Sequence Number) journals to potentially recover these files, even if they've been emptied from the Recycle Bin. This recovered data can be crucial for establishing timelines of activity, piecing together deleted documents, and identifying potential attempts to conceal evidence. Additionally, analyzing timestamps associated with file deletions within the Recycle Bin can provide valuable insights into when these actions occurred.