Learn how discrepancies between $STANDARD_INFORMATION and $FILE_NAME creation dates and the installation of BCWipe on a system can provide critical clues about timestamp manipulation and anti-forensic measures during a cybercrime investigation.
Table of Contents
Question
During a forensic investigation of a system suspected to be involved in cybercrime, the investigator observes discrepancies between the $STANDARD_INFORMATION and $FILE_NAME creation dates for some files. As part of the investigation process, the investigator also noted that a utility called BCWipe was found installed on the system. What would be the investigator’s most plausible conclusion based on these observations?
A. The system user used BCWipe to delete specific files securely
B. The system was compromised with malware that altered the metadata
C. The files were encrypted using the BCWipe utility
D. The timestamps for some files have been manipulated, possibly as an anti-forensic measure
Answer
The most plausible conclusion based on the observed discrepancies between the $STANDARD_INFORMATION and $FILE_NAME creation dates for some files and the presence of the BCWipe utility on the system is:
D. The timestamps for some files have been manipulated, possibly as an anti-forensic measure
Explanation
In the NTFS file system, each file has several timestamps stored in different attributes. The $STANDARD_INFORMATION attribute stores the file creation, last modified, last accessed, and MFT entry modified timestamps. The $FILE_NAME attribute, which is part of the file’s MFT record, also stores a set of timestamps, including the file creation time.
Normally, the creation timestamps in both attributes should match. If there are discrepancies between these timestamps, it suggests that the timestamps have been intentionally manipulated. This manipulation could be an attempt to hide or obscure certain file activities as an anti-forensic measure.
The presence of BCWipe, a utility used for secure deletion of files, further supports the conclusion that the user of the system was likely trying to conceal their activities. However, BCWipe is primarily used for secure deletion rather than timestamp manipulation or encryption.
Therefore, the discrepancies in timestamps, combined with the presence of a secure deletion utility, strongly suggest that the user of the system deliberately manipulated the timestamps of certain files, likely as an anti-forensic measure to hinder the investigation and hide their activities related to the suspected cybercrime.
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