200-201 Question 141
Select 3During a cybersecurity investigation, you are analyzing a suspicious email attachment. Metadata from the file reveals unusual creation timestamps and a modified author name. Which of the following actions can metadata analysis help you perform in this scenario?
- A
Identify potential tampering or malicious intent in the file
- B
Determine the file's original content
- C
Trace the source or origin of the file
- D
Verify the file's checksum for integrity
- E
Understand user behaviors related to the file
Show answer and explanation
Correct answers: A, C, E
Explanation
Metadata provides valuable context about a file, such as timestamps, authorship, and modification details, which can aid in identifying tampering, tracing its origin, and understanding user interactions. However, metadata does not reveal the file's contents or validate its integrity directly.
- A. Correct.
Correct: Metadata, such as creation timestamps or user changes, can reveal signs of tampering or malicious intent in the file.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect: Metadata does not provide details about the file's original content, as it only focuses on properties and attributes of the file.
- C. Correct.
Correct: Metadata often contains information like author names, timestamps, or network paths that can help trace the file's source or origin.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect: Verifying a checksum involves cryptographic hash functions, not metadata analysis, which focuses on file attributes.
- E. Correct.
Correct: Metadata such as last accessed time or file ownership changes can help understand user behaviors related to the file.