Facebook for Windows 8.1 64-bit Download: A Forensic Analysis of IM Apps

The rise of instant messaging (IM) services has transformed the way people communicate, making it an essential tool for both personal and professional use. With over 3.2 billion worldwide IM accounts in 2015 and expected to rise above 3.8 billion by 2019, according to the Radicati Group report, the need to understand how these services operate and leave behind data remnants is crucial.

This paper aims to investigate the data remnants left behind by Facebook and Skype, two popular Windows Store application software for instant messaging, on a Windows 8.1 client machine. The forensic examination of IM apps on modern Windows operating systems has been largely unexplored, as the platform is relatively new.

IM services are often protected by proprietary protocols, encryption, and other measures, making it challenging for forensic practitioners to collect meaningful information from external networks. However, chat logs can provide valuable evidence for investigators, including a suspect's physical location, true identity, transactional information, incriminating conversations, and other personal details such as email addresses and bank account numbers.

Similar to other popular consumer technologies, IM services have been exploited to commit frauds and scams, disseminate malware, and groom children online with the purpose of sexual exploitation. As a result, understanding how these services operate and leave behind data remnants is essential for forensic investigators to effectively gather evidence and combat cybercrime.

The research focused on detecting potential artefacts during the use of Facebook and Skype on Windows 8.1, including installation or uninstallation logs, login and logout information, contact lists, conversations, and transferred files. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the types of terrestrial artefacts that remain after using instant messaging services on modern Windows operating systems.

In conclusion, this paper demonstrates the importance of analyzing Facebook and Skype data remnants on Windows 8.1 client machines for forensic investigators. The results provide valuable insights into the types of artefacts left behind by these IM apps, which can aid in the investigation and prosecution of cybercrimes related to these services.

Facebook for windows 8.1 64 bit download