Introduction
The Program Compatibility Assistant (PCA) is a feature introduced in Windows 11 designed to help detect and fix compatibility issues with legacy applications. It works alongside other forensic artifacts like AmCache to provide valuable information about program execution on a system.
Purpose
PCA serves as an artifact of execution, particularly useful for tracking the execution of command-line interface (CLI) programs launched from the graphical user interface (GUI) and GUI-based programs. By logging execution details, PCA helps forensic analysts determine when and how applications were run on a system.
Directory
The PCA artifacts are stored in the following directory:
C:\Windows\Appcompat\pca
This directory contains binaries that have been executed, along with their execution times and program IDs. Key files include:
PcaAppLaunchDic.txt: Contains a mapping of file paths to their last execution times.
PcaGeneralDb0.txt and PcaGeneralDb1.txt: Store additional information such as runtime, run status, executable path, software vendor, and exit code.
Usage
Combining with AmCache
PCA data can be cross-referenced with AmCache data to get further details about executed programs. AmCache provides information about the programs installed and executed on a system, including file paths, hashes, and timestamps. By combining PCA and AmCache data, forensic analysts can build a comprehensive timeline of program execution.
Forensic Relevance
PCA artifacts are crucial in forensic investigations for several reasons:
Evidence of Execution: Confirming that a specific application was executed on the system.
Timeline Reconstruction: Helping to build a timeline of application usage.
Application Behavior: Providing insights into the behavior and performance of the application during its execution.
PcaAppLaunchDic.txt
PcaGeneralDb0.txt and PcaGeneralDb1.txt
Conclusion
The Program Compatibility Assistant (PCA) is a valuable tool in digital forensics, providing detailed logs of program execution that can be used to track application usage and behavior. By combining PCA data with other forensic artifacts like AmCache, analysts can gain a deeper understanding of the activities on a system.
Akash Patel
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