IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/etm/ijsrst/v13y2026i3id1637.html

File System Forensics: A Comparative Analysis across Operating Systems

Author

Listed:
  • Kapil B. Morey
  • Vijay J. Thakare
  • Vishal S. Pawade
  • Vaishali B. Mahajan

Abstract

File system forensics is a critical area within digital forensics, focusing on the acquisition, examination, and interpretation of data stored within various file systems. Given the centrality of file systems to data storage and access, understanding their structures and behaviors is essential for effective forensic investigations. This paper gives a comprehensive comparative analysis of file system forensics within three leading operating system environments: Windows (NTFS), Linux (ext4), and macOS (APFS). We evaluate each file system based on metadata handling, timestamp resolution, data deletion and recovery processes, journaling, and vulnerability to anti-forensics methods. Our study highlights the forensic strengths and weaknesses inherent in each system and proposes best practices for forensic analysts. These insights aim to guide future developments in forensic tools and methodologies [1][2][3].

Suggested Citation

  • Kapil B. Morey & Vijay J. Thakare & Vishal S. Pawade & Vaishali B. Mahajan, 2026. "File System Forensics: A Comparative Analysis across Operating Systems," International Journal of Scientific Research in Science and Technology, Technoscience Academy, vol. 13(3), pages 582-588, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:etm:ijsrst:v13:y2026:i3:id:1637
    DOI: 10.32628/IJSRST26133178
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ijsrst.com/home/article/view/IJSRST26133178
    File Function: Abstract page
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://ijsrst.com/home/article/download/IJSRST26133178/IJSRST26133178
    File Function: Full text
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.32628/IJSRST26133178?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:etm:ijsrst:v13:y2026:i3:id:1637. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Pankaj Sharma (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://ijsrst.com/home .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.