Forensic analysis of xbox one and playstation 4 gaming consoles

Abstract

This paper highlights the challenges faced due to non-availability of trusted specialized forensic tools for conducting investigation on gaming consoles. We have developed a framework to examine existing state-of-the-art forensic acquisition and analysis tools by exploring their applicability to eighth generation gaming consoles such as the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The framework is used to validate the acquired images, compare the retrieved artifacts before and after restoring the console to the factory settings, and to conduct network forensics on both devices. The paper reveals the need of specialized forensic tools for forensic analysis of these devices.