Which automated tool did a forensic expert employ to analyze deleted files from a Windows system?

The choice of Autopsy as the automated tool employed by a forensic expert to analyze deleted files from a Windows system is aligned with its primary functionalities. Autopsy is an open-source digital forensics platform commonly used for analyzing and recovering deleted files. It provides a user-friendly interface that allows forensic experts to efficiently investigate data structures, recover erased files, and conduct analysis on a variety of digital evidence types.

Autopsy includes capabilities such as file carving, which helps in recovering fragments of deleted files, and its ability to process images from file systems makes it particularly effective for examining Windows systems. The tool integrates various modules for different forensic tasks, making it suitable for comprehensive digital investigations.

While other tools, such as Forensic Toolkit (FTK) and EnCase, are also notable in the field of digital forensics and can analyze deleted files, Autopsy is particularly recognized for its accessibility and modular design, which appeals to both novice and seasoned forensic professionals. Wireshark, on the other hand, is primarily a network protocol analyzer and is not typically used for analyzing deleted files on a file system. This contextual understanding further underlines why Autopsy is the most appropriate choice in this scenario.