Umudike Journal of Engineering and Technology

Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike


DIGITAL FORENSIC INVESTIGATION AND ANALYSIS OF BITCOIN WALLETS: DATA REMNANTS AND TRACES ON USER MACHINES

Ngwu, C. R.
Department of Computer Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.M. B. 7267, Abia State, Nigeria

Amah, N. L.
Department of Computer Science Federal College of Education P.M.B 39 Kontagora, Niger State, Nigeria

Ede, C. C.
Department of Computer Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.M. B. 7267, Abia State, Nigeria



ABSTRACT

This research Digital forensic investigation into the remnants and traces left behind on a user system by Bitcoin wallets at all junctures following installation through transaction and deletion. It was aimed to recover any evidence that would be present on a user’s system even after they were deleted by the user. Tools such as VMware Workstation Pro, OSForensics, MagnetRAM Capture, HxD have been used to retrieve some bitcoin artefacts. Bitcoin wallets such as MultiBit HD, Armory, mSIGNA, Bitpay, Bither, and Electrum were installed. The research focused on bitcoin as a case study to investigate a security incident involving suspected criminal activities using bitcoins, a cryptocurrency used in peer-to-peer technology. It was undertaken to determine what data remnants and traces may remain on a Windows 10 operating system. This forensic investigation-based research revealed that evidence of data remnants subsequent to the installation and deletion of bitcoin wallets by the user did exist.


Keywords: Digital Forensics, Bitcoin wallet, Cryptocurrency, Data remnants, peer to peer technology


https://doi.org/10.33922/j.ujet_v7i1_12
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Published
Tuesday, June 01, 2021

Issue
Vol. 7 No. 1, June 2021

Article Section
GENERAL

The contents of the articles are the sole opinion of the author(s) and not of UJET.


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