Windows Event Logs: Introduction

Windows Event Logs are standardized logs maintained by the operating system and various applications and services to record significant occurrences, errors, warnings, and informational messages. They function like a detailed diary of system activity, providing chronological records crucial for troubleshooting problems, auditing security events, and performing forensic analysis.

For screensharing, Event Logs are invaluable because they can provide evidence of:

• User Logins and Logoffs (Successes and Failures - Security Log).

• System Startup and Shutdown events.

• Application Crashes, Hangs, and significant errors.

• Security-relevant actions like changes to security policies or user account management (Security Log).

• Service Start/Stop events (System Log).

• Attempts to clear the Event Logs themselves (a highly suspicious activity often indicative of covering tracks).

• Specific bypass technique artifacts, such as System Time Changes (Security Log, Event ID 4616) or USN Journal Deletion (Application Log, Event ID 3079).

• Installation of software or drivers.

Understanding how to navigate and query these logs is essential for uncovering evidence that might not be apparent in other artifacts.

• Location: Event logs are stored as files, typically with the .evtx extension, in the %SystemRoot%\System32\Winevt\Logs\ directory (usually C:\Windows\System32\Winevt\Logs\).