While responding to an incident, you've been asked to ensure the data integrity of logs that may contain evidence of malicious activity. What is the first step you should take to validate the integrity of these logs?
Take a complete copy of the logs and store them in a secure location before any analysis or hash calculations.
Calculate and securely record the hash values of the files and logs using a standardized hashing algorithm.
Ensure all logs are time-stamped so that you can validate data was not altered based on the time of recording.
Use a proprietary algorithm to encrypt the files and logs to prevent unauthorized modification.
Calculating and recording the hash values of files and logs is the first step to ensure data integrity. If the data is manipulated post-capture, the hash value will change and the integrity is compromised. Comparing the initial hash with one calculated later verifies whether the data has remained unchanged. Taking a copy before calculating hash values could alter data metadata inadvertently and time-stamping alone does not suffice for integrity control. Using proprietary algorithms is not recommended as these may not be as reliable or widely accepted as standard hashing algorithms.
Ask Bash
Bash is our AI bot, trained to help you pass your exam. AI Generated Content may display inaccurate information, always double-check anything important.
What is a hashing algorithm and why is it important for data integrity?
Open an interactive chat with Bash
What is the difference between recording hash values and time-stamping logs?
Open an interactive chat with Bash
Why is it recommended to use standardized hashing algorithms instead of proprietary ones?