Research Title:
A Survey of Web Browser Forensic Tools:
Autopsy, BHE and NetAnalysis
Hassan Adamu, Abdullahi Adamu Ahmad, Adamu Hassan, Sa’ad
Barau Gambasha
Abstract
Information and communication technology (ICT) are becoming
an integral part of everyone´s lives which affects all sectors of human
activity. Digital forensic investigators use log files to extract, analyse and
present a report based on the criminal activities found on the web browsers,
such log files include history, cache, download and cookies. Nowadays, the
level of computer crimes rises and it is alarming, for such, digital forensic
investigation plays a vital role in tackling computer-related crimes such as
cyberbullying, fraud, cyber intrusion, hacking an et cetera. The main goal of
digital forensic investigation is to preserve any evidence found in its most
original form and to make sure that the evidence is not tempered. This survey
paper evaluates the features of the three selected web browsers forensic tools
namely; Browser History Examiner, Autopsy and NetAnalysis, and make comparative
analysis between them. The findings of the evaluation based on the features of
the selected tools shows that Autopsy is the best forensic tool among them.
Therefore, in this paper, Autopsy has been recommended for a digital
investigator or examiner to use as their forensic tool among others.
Keywords – Web Browsers, Digital Forensic Tools,
Autopsy, NetAnalysis, Browser History Examiner