$LogFile (Metadata Log) - Specific Log for Metadata Changes

Similar in purpose (logging changes for consistency) but distinct in function and scope from the $USNJrnl is the $LogFile. While $USNJrnl uses USN Records to track a broad range of filesystem events affecting files and directories, $LogFile serves as a highly specialized, transactional log focused specifically on recording changes made to file system metadata before these changes are permanently committed to structures like the $MFT.

It logs operations such as updates to file attributes, modifications to MACB timestamps within the $MFT, changes to MFT records themselves, updates to directory indexes, and other structural metadata alterations. Its primary system function is recoverability – ensuring the filesystem structure remains consistent even if a crash occurs during a metadata update.

For forensic purposes, $LogFile can be extremely valuable, though challenging to analyze. It offers a very granular, short-term history of metadata modifications. This can potentially reveal:

• Direct evidence of timestomping, possibly showing the original and intended fake timestamps within the same logged transaction.

• Evidence of attribute manipulation (like setting Read-Only or Hidden flags).

• A more precise sequence of events for rapid file creation/deletion/renaming than might be apparent from $MFT timestamps or even $UsnJrnl alone.

However, $LogFile is notoriously difficult to parse due to its complex, largely undocumented internal format and its circular nature (it overwrites older entries relatively quickly on active systems). Specialized tools like "NTFS Log Parser" or advanced functions within comprehensive forensic suites are required to interpret its contents effectively. Its analysis is typically considered an advanced technique.