When investigating digital forensics on a Windows system, LNK (shortcut) files serve as one of the most valuable sources of user activity. Even if a user never explicitly creates a shortcut, Windows does—automatically tracking files, folders, and devices accessed. These artifacts are incredibly useful for proving file access, tracking external devices, and even recovering traces of deleted files.
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What Are LNK Files and Why Do They Matter?
LNK files, or Windows shortcuts, are automatically created when a user opens, interacts with, or saves a file. Unlike regular files that contain user data, LNK files store metadata about the original file, including:
✅ Full file path – The original location of the accessed file
✅ Timestamps – When the file was first accessed, last accessed, and modified
✅ Volume information – Drive letter, network path, and even USB device details
✅ File extension and type – Identifies the kind of file opened
✅ MAC address (for network shares) – Provides forensic evidence of file access across shared drives
These characteristics make LNK files a goldmine for forensic analysts, especially in cases where users have deleted files, accessed removable media, or interacted with files stored on network shares.
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Where Are LNK Files Stored?
LNK files are stored in each user's "Recent" folder, automatically tracking recent file activity. Their locations differ slightly based on Windows versions:
📌 Windows 7, 8, 10, 11:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Office\Recent\ (Office-specific shortcuts)
📌 Windows XP:
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Recent\
These Recent folders store shortcuts for non-executable files, including documents, images, and media files. However, command-line access does not generate LNK files, making them primarily useful for GUI-based user actions.
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How LNK Files Help in Forensics
1️⃣ Proving File Access (Even if Deleted)
One of the biggest forensic advantages of LNK files is that they persist even after the original file is deleted.
🚀 Example:
A user opens "akash.docx" from a USB drive.
Even if the user later deletes "akash.docx, the LNK file remains in the Recent folder.
The LNK file contains USB details, proving that the file was accessed from external storage.
🔍 Forensic Insight:Investigators can reconstruct deleted file activity using LNK metadata.
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2️⃣ Tracking USB Devices and External Drives
When a file is opened from a USB drive or external storage, Windows not only creates an LNK file for the file but also for the parent folder on the device.
🚀 Example:
A user accesses a folder from a USB drive (D:\data).
An LNK file is generated for the folder itself.
The metadata includes the USB device serial number and volume label.
🔍 Forensic Insight:This allows forensic analysts to determine which USB devices were used on a system, even if they are no longer connected.
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3️⃣ Understanding User Navigation and Folder Access
LNK files also provide information on folders frequently accessed by the user.
🚀 Example:
A user accesses a folder containing illegal files (C:\open\tools) Even if no specific file is opened, an LNK file for the folder itself is created.
🔍 Forensic Insight:This helps track which folders a user frequently interacts with, even if no direct file evidence remains.
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***Changes to LNK Files in Windows 10 & 11***
Microsoft has made several updates to LNK file behavior, improving forensic usefulness:
1️⃣ LNK files are now created when a file is first saved (not just when opened).
Before Windows 10, LNK files were only created after a file was opened.
Now, saving a file using "Save As" generates an LNK file immediately.
2️⃣ More detailed folder tracking.
If a user creates a new folder, LNK files are also created for its parent and grandparent folders.
3️⃣ LNK file storage limits have changed.
Windows historically stored only 149 LNK files per user.
In newer Windows 10/11 versions, 300+ LNK files can be found via forensic tools.
4️⃣ File extensions may now be included in LNK names.
Example: secret.pdf.lnk (helpful for quick identification).
5️⃣ Multiple LNK files for the same folder can now exist.
Instead of just tracking the first and last time a folder was accessed, Windows now creates new LNK files for repeated access, giving more timestamps to analyze.
🔍 Forensic Insight:These updates provide more data points for forensic analysts, making LNK files even more powerful for investigations.
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Best Practices for Investigating LNK Files
✅ Check unallocated space for deleted LNK files.
Older LNK files may still be recoverable from disk slack space.
✅ Correlate LNK timestamps with system logs.
Cross-check with Windows Event Logs and Prefetch data.
✅ Use forensic tools for deeper analysis.
Tools like Eric Zimmerman's LECmd can extract and parse LNK metadata efficiently.
✅ Look for USB drive metadata in LNK files.
This can help prove external storage use in data theft or insider threat cases.
✅ Use command-line tools to bypass GUI limitations.
The Windows GUI hides extra LNK files, but they can still be accessed via command-line or forensic software.
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Conclusion
LNK files are one of the oldest yet most powerful forensic artifacts in Windows investigations. Whether you're tracking accessed files, proving USB activity, or reconstructing deleted evidence, these automatically generated shortcuts hold a wealth of forensic intelligence.
With Windows 10 and 11 introducing new behaviors, investigators now have even more data points to work with—if they know where to look.
Parsing Lnk files step-by-step guide in next article
--------------------------------------------------Dean-----------------------------------------------------
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