There is a protected Excel file contained within the image named Book1.xls

There is a protected Excel file contained within the image named Book1.xls. Extract the file using FTK Imager by right-clicking the document and exporting it to place it anywhere on your machine. If you try to open it, it requires a password. How would I find the password in FTK?

The correct answer and explanation is:

Correct Answer:
To find the password of a protected Excel file using FTK Imager, you cannot directly retrieve the password within FTK Imager alone, as it is primarily used for data acquisition and forensic imaging—not password cracking. However, FTK Imager can help locate potential password clues within the surrounding data (e.g., from memory dumps, registry files, recent documents lists, or other user-created files) that may contain or reveal the password.

Explanation (Approx. 300 words):

FTK Imager is a forensic tool designed for imaging and viewing data without altering the original evidence. While it cannot decrypt password-protected Excel files or reveal passwords directly, it can be instrumental in gathering information that could help you find or guess the password.

When analyzing a disk image or a drive with FTK Imager, you can explore file structures, allocated and unallocated space, system files, and registry hives. To try to uncover the Excel file’s password, consider the following approaches within FTK Imager:

1. Search for Text References:
   Use the “Find Text” function to search for keywords like password, pwd, or the name of the file (e.g., Book1.xls). Sometimes users store or write down passwords in text files, emails, or notes.
2. Review Registry Files:
   Look under paths like NTUSER.DAT, especially in “RecentDocs,” which may reference recent files or sometimes contain metadata indicating file paths or password hints.
3. Examine Unallocated Space and Slack Space:
   These may contain remnants of deleted text files, emails, or clipboard contents where the password may have once been stored.
4. Check for Memory Dumps or Pagefile.sys:
   These files may contain passwords in plain text if the file was recently opened on the system.

If FTK Imager points to possible password clues, a password recovery tool (like Passware, Elcomsoft, or John the Ripper) can be used to actually recover or brute-force the password, using information gathered via FTK.

In summary, FTK Imager doesn’t show the password directly but helps uncover clues from system artifacts that can lead to discovering it.