Which tool should a forensic investigator use to determine whether data are leaving an organization through steganographic methods?
Correct Answer:
C
Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:
Netstat is a command-line network utility tool used to monitor active network connections, open ports, and network routing tables. In the context of detecting data exfiltration potentially using steganographic methods, netstat can help a forensic investigator identify suspicious or unauthorized network connections through which hidden data may be leaving an organization.
While netstat itself does not detect steganography within files, it can be used to monitor data flows and connections to external hosts, which is critical for identifying channels where steganographically hidden data could be transmitted.
Data Encryption Standard (DES) is a cryptographic algorithm, not a forensic tool.
MP3Stego is a steganography tool for embedding data in MP3 files and is not designed for detection or monitoring.
Forensic Toolkit (FTK) is a forensic analysis software focused on acquiring and analyzing data from storage devices, not network monitoring.
NIST Special Publication 800-86 (Guide to Integrating Forensic Techniques into Incident Response) emphasizes the importance of network monitoring tools like netstat during forensic investigations to detect unauthorized data transmissions. Although steganographic detection requires specialized analysis, identifying suspicious network activity is the first step in uncovering covert channels used for data exfiltration.
