What might a forensic investigator look for in a user's browser cache?

A forensic investigator often examines a user's browser cache primarily to identify recently visited websites and downloaded files. The browser cache stores temporary files and data from web pages that a user has accessed, which can provide crucial insights into an individual's online activities. This information can be pivotal in various investigations, such as understanding a user's behavior, identifying potential evidence of a crime, or piecing together a timeline of events.

The cache contains URLs and other data that reflect where the user has been on the internet, which can serve as a breadcrumb trail leading to significant findings. By analyzing this data, investigators can track which sites were accessed and when, and whether any downloads (like documents or images) were made during those visits. This aspect of digital forensic investigation emphasizes the importance of browser activity in revealing user behavior and assisting in the reconstruction of events.

Other options, while relevant to digital investigations, do not provide the same level of direct insight into user activity as data found in the browser cache. Saved passwords, installed plugins, and operating system details can be important for understanding system security and user settings, but they do not capture the browsing behavior and actions in the same way that cache data does.