Web forensics questions

Tools and technology for web forensics

No single artifact or tool is sufficient for every web investigation. A controlled browser, session recording, page artifacts, network context, integrity records and a documented process provide complementary views of what happened during acquisition.

What is a forensic web browser?

A forensic web browser is a controlled acquisition environment designed to preserve browser-accessible evidence and document the collection process. Unlike routine browsing, it connects visible content with investigator actions, technical artifacts, integrity records and case context.

Why is a browser extension not enough for forensic web acquisition?

An extension operates inside the user's everyday browser, where other extensions, cached state and configuration can alter what is displayed. It also has limited visibility into complete network traffic and certificate context, so it cannot provide the same controlled environment or technical record as a dedicated forensic browser.

Is Wireshark required for web evidence acquisition?

Wireshark is not required for every acquisition, but it is needed when packet-level network capture is part of the Eviquire Desktop workflow. Without it, other application-layer web and session artifacts may still be collected; the report should state the actual capture level.

What is a PCAP file and why preserve it?

A PCAP file stores captured network packets and can help an examiner review connections, protocols, endpoints and timing associated with an acquisition. Encrypted content may not be readable from packets alone, and packet capture must be authorized and configured correctly.

Why preserve TLS and certificate information?

TLS and certificate information helps document how the browser established an encrypted connection and which certificate chain it observed. Unexpected issuers, expired certificates or installed interception certificates can support further investigation, although normal-looking TLS does not prove that all page content is truthful.

Why preserve HTML or page source with a screenshot?

HTML and related resources can retain text, links, identifiers, metadata and structure that are absent or unreadable in a screenshot. Source artifacts also help explain how the visible page was assembled, but dynamic applications may require additional network and session evidence.

What is a web archive file?

A web archive format packages a webpage and some of its resources for later viewing, such as MHTML or WARC depending on the collection system. It can be useful, but it may not preserve every interactive, authenticated or server-dependent behaviour and should be retained with acquisition metadata and limitations.

Should robots.txt be preserved during a website investigation?

Robots.txt can document crawl directives presented by the site at a particular time, but it is not an authorization document and does not by itself determine whether collection is lawful. Preserve it when it is relevant to automated discovery, source behaviour or a dispute about crawler access.

Can web evidence be acquired through a VPN, proxy or Tor?

Yes, when the route is authorized, necessary and validated for the case. Record the network path and understand that it can change location, certificates, content, timing and attribution; sensitive or anonymous environments also require additional operational-security controls.

Which hash algorithm should be used for web evidence?

Use a currently accepted cryptographic hash such as SHA-256 or a stronger approved algorithm, following organizational, legal or laboratory requirements. Record the algorithm and value, and avoid relying on deprecated collision-prone algorithms as the sole integrity control.

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