Digital-Forensics-in-Cybersecurity Digital Forensics in Cybersecurity (D431/C840DQO1) Course Exam Questions and Answers

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Windows stores the hashes of local user account passwords in the SAM (Security Account Manager) file, which is located in theWindows\System32\configdirectory. This file is a critical component in the Windows security infrastructure.

The registry paths in A and B refer to network profiles and wireless configuration data, unrelated to password storage.

The "Security" file also resides in theSystem32\configfolder but stores security policy data rather than password hashes.

The SAM file stores password hashes and is targeted in forensic investigations for credential recovery.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

The email messages, including headers and content, contain information about the phishing attempt, such as sender details and embedded links. Analyzing these messages can help trace the source of the scam and determine the method used to deceive the victim.

Email headers provide metadata for tracking the origin.

Forensic examination of emails is fundamental in investigating social engineering and phishing attacks.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

File timestamps, including creation time, last modified time, and last accessed time, are fundamental metadata attributes stored with each file on a file system. When files are modified, these timestamps usually update, providing direct evidence about when changes occurred. Examining file timestamps helps forensic investigators identify which files were altered and estimate the time of unauthorized activity.

IP addresses (private or public) are network-related evidence, not stored on the storage media’s files directly.

Operating system version is system information but does not help identify specific file modifications.

Analysis of file timestamps is a standard forensic technique endorsed by NIST SP 800-86 (Guide to Integrating Forensic Techniques into Incident Response) for determining file activity and changes on digital media.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

The/etcdirectory on Unix-based systems, including macOS, contains important system configuration files and scripts. It is the standard location for system-wide configuration data.

/varcontains variable data like logs and spool files.

/bincontains essential binary executables.

/cfgis not a standard directory in macOS.

This is standard Unix/Linux directory structure knowledge and is reflected in NIST and forensic references for macOS.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

An email header contains metadata about the email including sender, receiver, routing information, and content details. TheContent-Typeheader specifies the media type of the email body (e.g., text/plain, text/html, multipart/mixed), indicating how the email content should be interpreted.

Sender's MAC address is not typically included in email headers.

Number of pages is not relevant to email metadata.

Message-Digest is a term related to cryptographic hashes but is not a standard email header field.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

On Apple iOS devices, deleted files are often moved to a hidden Trash folder before permanent deletion. The directory/.Trashes/501is a hidden folder where deleted files for user ID 501 (the first user created on macOS/iOS devices) are temporarily stored.

This folder can contain files marked for deletion and thus is a prime location for recovery attempts.

/lost+foundis a directory commonly used on Unix/Linux file systems for recovered file fragments after file system corruption but is not the default trash location on iOS.

/Private/etcand/etccontain system configuration files, not deleted user files.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

File slack is the space between the logical end of a file and the physical end of the last cluster allocated to the file. This space may contain residual data from previously deleted files or fragments, making it significant in forensic investigations.

Unallocated space refers to clusters not currently assigned to any file.

Volume slack includes slack space at the volume level but is less specific.

Host protected area is a reserved part of the disk for system use, unrelated to slack space.

File slack is a recognized forensic artifact often examined for hidden data or remnants.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

The foremost principle in digital forensics isnever altering the original evidence. This ensures integrity, authenticity, and admissibility in court.

Investigators analyze forensic copies, not originals.

Write-blockers and hashing are used to prevent changes.

Any alteration—intentional or accidental—can invalidate evidence.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

The/Library/Receiptsfolder on Mac OS X contains receipts that track software installation and updates, including system and application updates. This folder helps forensic investigators determine which updates were installed and when, useful for detecting suspicious or unauthorized software installations like spyware.

/var/spool/cupsis related to printer spooling.

/var/log/daily.outcontains daily system log summaries but not detailed update records.

/var/vmcontains virtual memory files.

NIST and Apple forensics documentation indicate that/Library/Receiptsis a key location for examining software installation history.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Windows stores user account password hashes in theSecurity Account Manager (SAM)file, located inC:\Windows\System32\config. This file contains encrypted NTLM password hashes that can be extracted with forensic tools for analysis.

SAM is critical for authentication evidence.

The file is locked when Windows is running and must be acquired via imaging or offline analysis.

Kerberos is an authentication protocol, not a password storage file.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Identity theft occurs when an attacker unlawfully obtains and uses another person's personal information to open accounts, access credit, or commit fraud. The opening of credit cards without the victim's consent is a classic example.

SQL injection is a web application attack method that does not directly relate to this case.

Cyberstalking involves harassment via digital means and is unrelated.

Malware is malicious software and may be used to facilitate identity theft but is not the crime itself.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

The Advanced Forensic Format (AFF) is an open file format designed for storing disk images and related forensic metadata. It was developed by the Sleuth Kit community and is supported by forensic tools such as Sleuth Kit and Autopsy. AFF allows efficient storage, compression, and metadata annotation, which makes it suitable for forensic investigations.

AccessData is known for FTK format, not AFF.

iLook uses proprietary formats unrelated to AFF.

Guidance Software developed the EnCase Evidence File (E01) format.

AFF is widely recognized in open-source forensic toolchains.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Real evidence (also called physical evidence) refers to tangible objects that are involved in the crime or relevant to the investigation. A USB flash drive is physical evidence because it is an actual device containing potentially relevant digital data.

Documentary evidence refers to written or recorded information, not physical devices.

Demonstrative evidence is used to illustrate or clarify facts (e.g., models, charts).

Testimonial evidence is oral or written statements provided by witnesses.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

SATA (Serial ATA) refers to an interface standard commonly used for connecting magnetic hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs) to a computer. The term SATA itself describes the connection, but most HDDs that use SATA as an interface are magnetic drives.

CD-ROM and Blu-ray are optical storage media, not magnetic.

SSD (Solid State Drive) uses flash memory, not magnetic storage.

Magnetic drives rely on spinning magnetic platters, which are typically connected via SATA or other interfaces.

This differentiation is emphasized in digital forensic training and hardware documentation, including those from NIST and forensic hardware textbooks.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Documenting the scene through photographs preserves the original state of evidence before it is moved or altered. This supports chain of custody and evidence integrity, providing context during analysis and court proceedings.

Photographic documentation is a standard step in forensic protocols.

It ensures the scene is accurately recorded.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

NIST Special Publication 800-72 provides guidelines for mobile device forensics and identifies four device states during data extraction: active, idle, powered off, and locked. These states influence how data can be accessed and preserved.

Understanding these states helps forensic investigators select appropriate acquisition techniques.

NIST SP 800-72 is a key reference for mobile device forensic methodologies.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Snow is a specialized steganalysis tool that detects and extracts hidden data encoded in whitespace characters within text files and other mediums. It is widely used in digital forensic investigations for detecting covert data hiding methods such as whitespace steganography.

Data Doctor is a general data recovery tool, not specialized in steganalysis.

FTK is a general forensic suite, not specifically designed for steganography detection.

MP3Stego is focused on audio steganography.

NIST and digital forensics literature recognize Snow as a valuable tool in workflows designed to detect hidden data in text or similar carriers.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

In steganography, the file that hides secret information is called thecarrier. The carrier file appears normal and contains embedded hidden data (the payload).

Payload refers to the actual secret data hidden inside the carrier.

Snow refers to random noise or artifacts, often in images or files.

Channel refers to the medium or communication path used to transmit data.

Thus,vacationdetails.docis the carrier file containing the hidden information.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Title 18 U.S.C. § 2252B addresses the criminal offense of using misleading domain names with the intent to deceive minors into accessing harmful material. This law specifically targets online behavior designed to exploit or expose minors to inappropriate content.

It is part of broader child protection statutes.

Enforcement requires digital evidence linking domain misuse to the intent.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Solid-state drives (SSDs) use flash memory and have no moving mechanical parts, making them more resistant to physical shock and damage compared to magnetic drives, which rely on spinning platters.

This resilience makes SSDs favorable in environments with higher physical risk.

However, data recovery from SSDs can be more complex due to wear-leveling and TRIM features.