Metadata

Metadata refers to information about data itself, like when a file was created, who created it, or where it was stored, essentially providing context and details about the data without revealing its actual content; in cybersecurity investigations, this metadata attached to logged events and files can be crucial for establishing timelines and identifying potential breach origins by showing "when" and "where" actions occurred.

Key points about metadata:

What it describes:

Metadata provides details about the origin, properties, and history of a data file, including creation date, modification date, author, file size, and permissions.

File system tracking:

Operating systems automatically record file metadata like creation, access, and modification timestamps, which can be valuable for forensic analysis.

Security attributes:

Files can have additional metadata like read-only, hidden, or system file flags, indicating security settings applied to them.

Extended attributes:

Beyond basic file system metadata, files might contain extended attributes like author names, copyright information, or tags for easier searching.

Relevance in investigations:

By analyzing metadata, investigators can build a timeline of events, pinpoint potential sources of a breach, and identify suspicious activity based on when and where files were accessed or modified.

Example of how metadata is used in investigations:

Identifying malicious activity: If a critical system file is suddenly modified at an unusual time, the metadata (timestamp) could indicate a potential intrusion attempt.

Tracking file movement: By examining the metadata of a copied file, investigators can determine when and from which system it was transferred.

Identifying the source of a document: Metadata like author information on a document can help trace its origin.