Prefetch Analyzer

Advanced Windows Prefetch (.pf) file analysis module for forensic investigation and system behavior analysis.

Module Overview

The Windows Prefetch Analyzer module transforms raw Prefetch files into actionable forensic insights through advanced parsing, timeline reconstruction, and behavioral analysis. Prefetch files contain valuable execution artifacts that reveal program usage patterns, file access sequences, and system performance optimizations.

While traditional prefetch analysis tools require manual parsing and interpretation, this module provides automated analysis with intelligent pattern recognition, anomaly detection, and timeline correlation. It identifies suspicious executables, unusual execution patterns, and potential indicators of compromise hidden within prefetch data.

Whether you're conducting digital forensics, incident response, or threat hunting, this module accelerates your analysis by automatically correlating execution timelines, identifying Living-off-the-Land binaries (LOLBINs), and highlighting anomalous system behavior patterns.

Use Cases

Digital Forensics & Incident Response

  • Execution Timeline Reconstruction: Automatically builds chronological execution timelines from prefetch data
  • Program Usage Analysis: Identifies frequently executed programs and their usage patterns
  • Lateral Movement Detection: Tracks execution of remote access tools and suspicious network utilities
  • Data Exfiltration Hunting: Identifies execution of archiving tools, cloud sync utilities, and data transfer programs

Threat Hunting & Detection

  • LOLBIN Detection: Automatically identifies Living-off-the-Land binaries and their execution patterns
  • Anomaly Detection: Flags unusual execution locations, suspicious proximity patterns, and non-native executables
  • Persistence Mechanism Analysis: Identifies execution of persistence-related tools and utilities
  • Malware Execution Tracking: Correlates execution timelines with known malware indicators

Analysis Features

Execution Analysis

  • Executable Statistics: Frequency analysis of executed programs
  • Run Count Analysis: Execution frequency patterns and anomaly detection
  • Timeline Histogram: Temporal distribution of program executions
  • LOLBIN Identification: Automatic detection of Living-off-the-Land binaries

Volume & Path Analysis

  • Volume References: Analysis of accessed volumes and drive mappings
  • Suspicious Locations: Detection of execution from unusual or high-risk directories
  • Path Normalization: Automatic conversion of volume GUIDs to standard Windows paths

Module Analysis

  • DLL Dependencies: Analysis of loaded modules and their relationships
  • Non-Native Modules: Detection of third-party or suspicious DLL usage
  • Module Statistics: Frequency analysis of referenced modules

Anomaly Detection

  • Proximity Alerts: Detection of suspicious execution patterns within time windows
  • Location Anomalies: Identification of execution from suspicious directories
  • Unknown Executables: Detection of non-standard or unrecognized programs

Usage Guidelines

File Upload and Processing

  • Supported Formats: Windows Prefetch files (.pf) from Windows XP through Windows 11
  • File Size Limits: Individual files up to 50MB, batch processing up to 100 files simultaneously
  • Multi-File Analysis: Correlate findings across multiple prefetch files for comprehensive analysis

Analysis Configuration

  • Time Range Filtering: Focus analysis on specific time periods
  • Execution Pattern Analysis: Identify behavioral patterns and anomalies
  • Cross-Reference Analysis: Correlate with other forensic artifacts

Data Processing Best Practices

  • Source System Context: Identify the source system and collection method
  • Time Zone Handling: All timestamps normalized to UTC
  • Correlation Opportunities: Combine with Event Log and Registry analysis for comprehensive investigation

Token Pricing Breakdown

Standard Analysis

  • Prefetch Analysis: 2 tokens per file - Complete parsing, execution timeline reconstruction, LOLBIN detection, volume analysis, module analysis, and anomaly identification

Why These Costs: Prefetch analysis requires computational resources for parsing binary structures, timeline correlation, path normalization, and pattern analysis across multiple execution instances.

Performance Expectations

Processing Times

  • Single Prefetch File: Under 2 seconds for standard analysis
  • Batch Processing (100 files): 30-60 seconds depending on file complexity
  • Large Enterprise Collections: Processing scales linearly with file count

Integration Notes

  • SIEM Integration: Results formatted for direct import into security platforms
  • Timeline Correlation: Timestamps compatible with other forensic timeline tools
  • Export Formats: JSON, CSV, and structured reports for various analysis workflows

Native Executable Lookup

Comprehensive Windows native executable and binary analysis service for malware detection and threat hunting.

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Advanced Windows Registry hive analysis module for forensic investigation, configuration analysis, and artifact extraction.