Which of the following file contains the traces of the applications installed, run, or uninstalled from a system?
Which of the following file contains the traces of the applications installed, run, or uninstalled from a system?
Prefetch Files contain traces of applications that have been installed, run, or uninstalled from a system. These files are created by Windows to improve the loading times of applications by storing data such as the application's execution path, launch parameters, and execution time. This information can be quite useful in forensic investigations to understand which applications have been used on the system.
should be Prefetch
Prefetch file store the data regarding the applications
From EC Council: Prefetch files store information on applications that have been run on the system...
The correct answer is C. Prefetch Files. Prefetch files contain traces of applications installed, run, or uninstalled from a system. Prefetch files are created by Windows to optimize application loading times and contain information such as: Application name and path Execution time and frequency File access history Prefetch files are stored in the Windows Prefetch folder (e.g., C:\Windows\Prefetch) and can be useful in digital forensics investigations to reconstruct a user's activity and identify installed or run applications. Here's a brief overview of the other options: A. Shortcut Files: Contain links to applications or files, but don't necessarily indicate installation or usage. B. Virtual files: Don't exist in the context of Windows file systems. D. Image Files: Contain graphical data, not application usage traces
C > Prefetch files contain applications/software that was once uninstalled/deleted run on the system later.
https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/reader/books/9781635676969/pageid/657 Module 06: Windows Forensics / LO#04: Examine Windows Files and Metadata Page 658 Prefetch Files: Examining the prefetch directory helps determine the applications that have been run on a system. --> Prefetch files
Within Prefetch files, there are records of the application's execution path, dependent files, library files, and other information, as well as the application's launch parameters and execution time. These details can help forensic investigators determine the applications that were installed and run on a system, including traces of uninstalled applications. By analyzing Prefetch files, investigators can gather valuable information about the system's usage, the timing and frequency of application executions, and other key details. This can assist in reconstructing the system's activity history and identifying potential security issues.