What does the term "boot analysis" primarily focus on in forensic investigations?

The term "boot analysis" in forensic investigations primarily focuses on examining the boot sequence for evidence. This process involves evaluating the startup routines of a computer to identify and investigate any anomalies, malicious software, or unauthorized modifications that may indicate a security breach or other improper actions. During boot analysis, investigators review various components of the boot process, such as the bootloader, operating system files, and any startup applications, to ascertain whether any alterations have been made that could compromise the integrity of the system or point to the presence of malware.

In the context of digital forensics, understanding the boot sequence is critical because it can reveal how an operating system initializes, what drivers and services are loaded at startup, and whether any malicious items are injected into this process. This analysis can help establish a timeline of events and provide insight into how an attacker may have compromised the system.

Other choices, while relevant to certain aspects of computer investigations, do not directly pertain to the specific focus of boot analysis. Comparing hardware configurations, analyzing software performance, and reviewing user access logs are valuable in their own rights, but they do not address the vital aspects of the boot process that boot analysis specifically investigates.