Forensic Investigation of User's Web Activity on Google Chrome using Open-source Forensic Tools

• Published in: International journal of computer science and information security Vol. 13; no. 9; p. 92
• Main Authors: Shafqat, Narmeen, Aslam, Baber
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pittsburgh L J S Publishing 01.09.2015
• Subjects: Browsers (computer); Browsing; Computer information security; Forensic engineering; Forensic sciences; Freeware; Internet; Passwords; Portability; Privacy; Smartphones; Social networks; Social research; Tabs; Web browsers
• ISSN: 1947-5500

Cyber crimes are increasing day by day, ranging from confidentiality violation to identity theft and much more. The web activity of the suspect, whether carried out on computer or smart device, is hence of particular interest to the forensics investigator. Browser forensics i.e. forensics of suspect's browser history, saved passwords, cache, recent tabs opened etc. Therefore supply ample amount of information to the forensic experts in case of any illegal involvement of the culprit in any activity done on web browsers. Owing to the growing popularity and widespread use of the Google Chrome web browser, this paper will forensically analyse the said browser in windows 8 environment, using various forensics tools and techniques, with the aim to reconstruct the web browsing activities of the suspect. The working of Google Chrome in regular mode, private "Google Incognito Mode" and portable modes of operation is discussed at length in this paper.