Video game consoles have evolved from single-player embedded systems with rudimentary processing and graphics capabilities to multipurpose devices that provide users with parallel functionality to contemporary desktop and laptop computers. Besides offering video games with rich graphics and multiuser network play, today\u27s gaming consoles give users the ability to communicate via email, video and text chat; transfer pictures, videos, and file;, and surf the World-Wide-Web. These communication capabilities have, unfortunately, been exploited by people to plan and commit a variety of criminal activities. In an attempt to cover the digital tracks of these unlawful undertakings, anti-forensic techniques, such as steganography, may be utilized to hide or alter evidence. This paper will explore how criminals and terrorists might be using the Xbox 360 to convey messages and files using steganographic techniques. Specific attention will be paid to the going dark problem and the disjoint between forensic capabilities for analyzing traditional computers and forensic capabilities for analyzing video game consoles. Forensic approaches for examining Microsoft\u27s Xbox 360 will be detailed and the resulting evidentiary capabilities will be discussed.
Keywords: Digital Forensics, Xbox Gaming Console, Steganography, Terrorism, Cyber Crim
