Digital Forensics (Part 2): The Importance of Rapid Triage Collection - Kape vs FTK Imager
- 13 hours ago
- 4 min read
In the fast-evolving world of digital forensics, time is critical. Traditional methods of acquiring full disk images are becoming increasingly impractical due to the sheer size of modern storage devices. The reality is that 99% of the necessary evidence typically exists within just 1% of the acquired data. Instead of waiting hours for a full disk image, focusing on this crucial 1% can significantly speed up investigations.
Why Rapid Triage Collection Matters
Saves Time – Collecting only essential forensic artifacts allows investigators to start analyzing data sooner.
Reduces Storage Needs – Full disk images consume massive amounts of storage, whereas triage collection focuses only on critical data.
Enhances Efficiency – Investigators can prioritize relevant information and streamline the investigative process.
Key Artifacts to Collect During Triage
To ensure effective triage, forensic analysts should focus on specific files and artifacts that provide the most insight. These include:
File System & Activity Logs
$MFT (Master File Table) – Contains metadata about every file and folder on the system.
$Logfile & USN Journal – Records changes such as file creation, modification, and deletion.
Windows Registry Hives
SAM – Stores user account information.
SYSTEM – Contains system configuration details.
SOFTWARE – Holds installed software and system settings.
DEFAULT, NTUSER.DAT & USRCLASS.DAT – User-specific settings and configurations.
AMCACHE.HVE – Tracks executed programs.
System & User Activity Logs
Event Logs (.evtx) – Tracks system and user activities.
Other Log Files – Includes setup logs, firewall logs, and web server logs.
Prefetch Files (.pf) – Evidence of executed programs, including access history.
Shortcut Files (.lnk) – Indicates files and directories opened by the user.
Jump Lists – Collection of shortcut files that reveal frequently accessed files and directories.
Check Out the below article it contain detail analysis on almost all the artifacts:
User-Specific Data
Recent Folder & Subfolders – Stores recent document access history.
AppData Folder – Contains browsing history, cookies, and cached files.
Pagefile.sys & Hiberfil.sys – Can contain remnants of past user activity stored in virtual memory.
Specialized Artifacts for Advanced Investigations
Certain artifacts provide deeper insight into a user's actions and past activity, even if data has been deleted.
Volume Shadow Copies
What It Is: A point-in-time backup of an NTFS volume.
Why It’s Useful: Helps recover deleted files, registry hives, and past system states.
Location: C:\System Volume Information
Recommended Tools: KAPE, VSCMount, Shadow Explorer.
ShellBags
What It Is: Tracks user navigation through directories, including removable storage and remote servers.
Why It’s Useful: Helps reconstruct user activity even if the files/folders no longer exist.
Location: Registry keys within NTUSER.DAT and USRCLASS.DAT.
Recommended Tools: ShellBags Explorer, SBECmd.
Triage Tools for Efficient Collection
Forensic professionals can utilize powerful tools to automate and streamline triage collection:
FTK Imager – Extracts files by extension.
LECmd – Parses .lnk files.
JLECmd, JumpList Explorer – Extracts jump list data.
PECmd – Analyzes prefetch files.
KAPE – Rapid collection of forensic artifacts.
Shadow Explorer – Recovers files from volume shadow copies.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When dealing with digital evidence, one of the most critical steps is proper acquisition. This ensures that investigators can analyze data without tampering with the original evidence.
Two powerful tools for forensic acquisition are FTK Imager and KAPE. Each serves a different purpose, and understanding their strengths helps streamline forensic investigations.
Why Imaging Matters in Digital Forensics
In digital forensics, it’s generally not advisable to work directly on original evidence. Instead, investigators create forensic images—bit-by-bit copies of a device—to analyze while preserving the integrity of the original data. However, imaging takes time, and sometimes investigators must balance speed with thoroughness. This is where triaging becomes an essential technique.
Acquisition Using FTK Imager
FTK Imager is a well-known forensic imaging tool used to create full disk images, memory dumps, and file captures while maintaining forensic integrity.
The step-by-step guide for FTK Imager-based imaging is available in a detailed PDF document on my website.
You can download it from the Resume section under the document name "FTK Imager Based Imaging".
Acquisition Using KAPE
KAPE (Kroll Artifact Parser and Extractor) is a rapid forensic triage tool that can collect targeted artifacts from a live system or forensic image. Unlike FTK Imager, which captures everything, KAPE focuses on extracting critical forensic artifacts such as:
Event logs
Registry hives
Browser history
User activity logs
KAPE is also useful for remote forensic collection, making it highly efficient for Incident Response (IR) cases. You can find my complete article on KAPE acquisition, analysis, and IR cases on my website, which includes detailed screenshots.
Triage vs. Full Imaging: When to Use What?
A key forensic question is whether to triage first or perform a full disk image before analysis. The decision depends on time constraints and urgency.
If time is not an issue, creating a full forensic image first is the best practice. This ensures every piece of data is preserved for in-depth analysis.
If speed is critical, such as in incident response cases, triaging first with KAPE allows investigators to gather key forensic artifacts quickly.
A balanced approach involves first running KAPE for rapid data collection and then starting full disk imaging with FTK Imager. This way, analysis can begin while the full image is still being created.
How to Balance Speed and Completeness?
Use a write blocker when dealing with original media to prevent accidental modifications.
Run KAPE first to quickly extract key forensic data (~1% of the total data that is most relevant to investigations).
Start full imaging with FTK Imager while simultaneously analyzing the KAPE-collected data.
By the time imaging is complete, investigators may already have leads from the extracted artifacts.
This win-win approach ensures rapid initial analysis while maintaining forensic integrity.
Final Thoughts
Both FTK Imager and KAPE are invaluable forensic tools. FTK Imager provides a complete forensic image, while KAPE allows for fast triage and targeted artifact collection. The right tool depends on the specific case, but combining both strategically helps investigators work efficiently without compromising forensic standards.
For a detailed walkthrough of these processes, check out my full documentation on FTK Imager and KAPE on my website!
----------------------------------------------Dean--------------------------------------------
Comments