Individual skill
analyzing-prefetch-files-for-execution-history
Parse Windows Prefetch files (versions 17, 23, 26, 30) with tools like PECmd, WinPrefetchView, or python-prefetch to determine program execution history, including run counts, execution timestamps, and referenced files/DLLs. Use when building a timeline of program execution on a Windows system, confirming whether a suspicious binary ran, or correlating execution evidence with other forensic artifacts during an investigation.
skills/analyzing-prefetch-files-for-execution-history/SKILL.md
Source commit 54a798831d2266a3ca61ce68a7acb80b81160d57
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- Last checked
- Nov 9, 2026
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- Repository stars (not skill ratings)
- 35,893
- Repository last updated
- Aug 31, 2026
- License
- Apache-2.0
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- ai-agents Repository topic
- claude-code Repository topic
- cybersecurity Repository topic
- incident-response Repository topic
- mitre-attack Repository topic
- penetration-testing Repository topic
- red-team Repository topic
- security Repository topic
- cloud-security Repository topic
- malware-analysis Repository topic
- forensics Declared skill tag
- prefetch Declared skill tag
- windows-artifacts Declared skill tag
- execution-history Declared skill tag
- timeline-analysis Declared skill tag
- evidence-collection Declared skill tag
- engineering Derived category
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LICENSEasset · 11,255 bytesSKILL.mdcore · 12,152 bytesSKILL.mdcore · 12,152 bytesSKILL.mdcore · 12,152 bytesSKILL.mdcore · 12,152 bytesSKILL.mdcore · 12,152 bytesSKILL.mdcore · 12,152 bytesSKILL.mdcore · 12,152 bytesSKILL.mdcore · 12,152 bytesreferences/api-reference.mddoc · 3,146 bytesscripts/agent.pyruns · 8,231 bytes
Read excerpt
# Analyzing Prefetch Files for Execution History
## When to Use
- When determining which programs were executed on a Windows system and when
- During malware investigations to confirm execution of suspicious binaries
- For establishing a timeline of application usage during an incident
- When correlating program execution with other forensic artifacts
- To identify anti-forensic tools or unauthorized software that was run
## Prerequisites
- Access to Windows Prefetch directory (C:\Windows\Prefetch\) from forensic image
- PECmd (Eric Zimmerman), WinPrefetchView, or python-prefetch parser
- Understanding of Prefetch file format (versions 17, 23, 26, 30)
- Windows system with Prefetch enabled (default on client OS, disabled on servers)