Autopsy User Documentation  4.20.0
Graphical digital forensics platform for The Sleuth Kit and other tools.
Encryption Detection Module

Table of Contents

Overview

The Encryption Detection Module searches for files that could be encrypted using both a general entropy calculation and more specialized tests for certain file types.

Running the module

The module's settings can be configured at runtime. These settings only effect the tests that are based on entropy.

encrypt_module.png

Minimum entropy can be set higher or lower, depending on how many false hits are being produced. There is also an option to only run the test on files whose size is a multiple of 512, which is useful for finding certain encryption algorithms.

The module looks for the following types of encryption:

Viewing results

Files that pass the tests are shown in the Results tree under "Encryption Detected" or "Encryption Suspected". Generally, if the test used involved looking for a specific header/file structure, the result will be "Encryption Detected" and the type of encryption will be displayed in the Comment field. If the test was based on the entropy of the file, the result will be "Encryption Suspected" and the calculated entropy will be displayed in the Comment field.

encrypt_tree.png

Each hit also generates an inbox message. These are viewed through the warning triangle near the top of the screen.

encrypt_inbox.png

Selecting one of the encryption detection hits displays the calculated entropy of the file.

encrypt_entropy.png

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