Pass the WGU Courses and Certificates Digital-Forensics-in-Cybersecurity Questions and answers with ExamsMirror

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

The Windows Security Account Manager (SAM) file stores hashed passwords for local Windows user accounts. These hashes are used to authenticate users without storing plaintext passwords.

The SAM file stores local account password hashes, not network passwords.

Passwords are hashed (not encrypted) using algorithms like NTLM or LM hashes.

Network password management occurs elsewhere (e.g., Active Directory).

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

StegVideo is a steganographic tool designed to embed hidden messages within multimedia files such as sound, video, and image files, making it suitable for multi-media steganography.

Snow is mainly used for text-based steganography.

MP3Stego is specialized for MP3 audio files only.

Stealth Files 4 is a general steganography tool but less commonly referenced for multimedia.

Forensic and academic sources identify StegVideo as a tool for multimedia steganography, useful in complex digital investigations.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Windows uses a swap file (commonly calledpagefile.sys) to extend physical memory (RAM) by temporarily storing data from memory to disk when RAM is insufficient. This allows the system to handle more data than the available RAM.

Linux and Unix typically use dedicated swap partitions or swap files but refer to them differently and manage them in other ways.

Mac OS X uses a paging file system but does not typically use a "swap file" in the Windows sense; it uses dynamic paging files instead.

The terminology "swap file" is most commonly associated with Windows.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Eudora email client uses the.mbxfile extension to store email messages. The.mbxformat stores emails in a mailbox file similar to the standard mbox format used by other email clients.

.dbxis used by Microsoft Outlook Express.

.ostand.pstare file types used by Microsoft Outlook.

Therefore,.mbxis specific to Eudora.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

TheForwardedEventslog in Windows 7 is specifically designed to store events collected from remote computers via event forwarding. This log is part of the Windows Event Forwarding feature used in enterprise environments to centralize event monitoring.

TheSystemandApplicationlogs store local system and application events.

TheSecuritylog stores local security-related events.

ForwardedEventscollects and stores events forwarded from other machines.

Microsoft documentation and NIST SP 800-86 mention the use of ForwardedEvents for centralized event log collection in investigations.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

In Internet fraud investigations, computer logs are critical because they provide a record of user activity, including browsing history, downloads, and system events. These logs can help establish a timeline, identify malicious access, and confirm fraudulent transactions.

Computer logs may include browser history, system event logs, and application logs that document the victim’s interaction with the fraudulent offer.

Whois records help identify domain registration details but are secondary evidence.

Email headers are relevant if communication via email was part of the fraud but less critical than logs that show direct interaction.

Virus signatures are used in malware investigations, not directly relevant to fraud evidence collection.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

HIPAA establishes standards to protect sensitive patient health information (PHI) and regulates the use and disclosure of such information. Forensic investigators dealing with health data must comply with HIPAA to avoid legal violations.

HIPAA compliance is critical when handling medical records in investigations.

Breach of PHI privacy can result in civil and criminal penalties.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Steganography is used to save or embed secret data within another file or medium, allowing covert communication without alerting observers to the presence of the data.

The goal is to conceal, not highlight or delete data.

It does not erase or delete secret data; instead, it hides it.

This aligns with standard definitions in cybersecurity and forensic literature including NIST's cybersecurity frameworks.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Forensic Toolkit (FTK) is a widely recognized and trusted software suite in digital forensics used to acquire and analyze forensic images of devices, including mobile phones. FTK supports the creation of bit-by-bit images of digital evidence, ensuring the integrity and admissibility of the evidence in legal contexts. This imaging process is crucial in preserving the original state of the device data without alteration.

FTK enables forensic investigators to perform logical and physical acquisitions of mobile devices.

It maintains the integrity of the evidence by generating cryptographic hash values (MD5, SHA-1) to prove that the image is an exact copy.

Other options such as PTFinder or Forensic SIM Cloner focus on specific tasks like SIM card cloning or targeted data extraction but do not provide full forensic imaging capabilities.

Data Doctor is more aligned with data recovery rather than forensic imaging.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

The fundamental tasks for a forensic specialist are to locate potential digital evidence, ensure its preservation to prevent tampering or loss, and prepare the evidence for analysis or legal proceedings. Proper handling maintains the evidentiary value of digital artifacts.

Preservation includes using write-blockers and documenting chain of custody.

Preparation may involve imaging, cataloging, and validating evidence.