What is an artifact in digital forensics?

In the context of digital forensics, an artifact refers to any piece of data or evidence that is left behind as a result of a user's interaction with a device or software. This can include a wide range of data types, such as deleted files, system logs, metadata, and browser history, which can provide important insights into user behavior, system activity, or potential criminal actions.

Understanding artifacts is crucial for investigators because they can reveal patterns and connections that might not be immediately visible. For instance, examining recent files in a file system can indicate what documents were accessed prior to an incident. Each artifact can serve as a piece of the puzzle that helps reconstruct events or establish timelines surrounding the use of digital systems.

The other options, while related to the field, describe different concepts. The concept of software as a tool for analysis does not encapsulate the broader definition of what artifacts are. Similarly, defining artifacts as the physical device or excluding cryptographic methods doesn't capture the essence of artifacts, which is fundamentally about the data itself.