During a cyber-forensics investigation, how should an investigator detect steganography in image files?

Detecting steganography, which is the practice of hiding data within other files—such as images—often requires a detailed analysis at the binary level. Inspecting the hexadecimal code for anomalies is a crucial method as it allows investigators to observe the underlying data structure of an image file.

When steganography is employed, the hidden data is typically inserted into the least significant bits of the pixel values or in other parts of the file that may not significantly alter the image's appearance. By examining the hexadecimal representation, an investigator can identify unusual patterns, alterations, or data that does not conform to the expected structure of a standard image file. This can include inconsistencies in file size relative to the image’s properties, unexpected changes following image compression, or other abnormal signatures that suggest data has been embedded.

Reviewing properties logs, comparing file extensions, or using hash values like SHA-1 focuses on other aspects of file integrity and identification. While these methods can be useful for general file analysis and ensuring files have not been tampered with, they do not specifically target the identification of data hidden within files, which is the core task when investigating steganography. Therefore, inspecting the hexadecimal code is the most effective approach for uncovering hidden information within image files.