The Use of File Timestamps in Digital Forensics

Digital evidence is not well perceived by the human senses. Crucial pieces of digital evidence may simply be missed by investigators as the forensic significance of seemingly unimportant pieces of collected data may not be fully understood. This paper will discuss how abstract pieces of information may be extracted from seemingly insignificant evidence sources such a file timestamps by making use of correlating evidence sources. The use of file timestamps as a substitute for missing or corrupt log files as well as the information deficiency problem surrounding the use of timestamps will be discussed in detail. A prototype was developed to help investigators to determine the course of event as they occurred according to file timestamps. The prototype results that were obtained as well as prototype flaws will also be addressed. KEY WORDS Digital Forensics, Event Reconstruction, Reco Platform, Timestamps. 

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2008
• Where: ISSA
• Authors: Renico Koen, Martin S. Olivier
• Keywords: Digital Evidence, Evidence Sources, File Timestamps, Information Technology, ISSA 2008