Which of the following is a digital forensic artifact that helps investigators detect security incidents on a host system?

Indicators of compromise (IOCs) are critical digital forensic artifacts that play a vital role in helping investigators detect security incidents on a host system. These indicators are pieces of information, such as file hashes, IP addresses, URLs, or unusual behaviors such as unexpected system changes, that suggest a potential breach or malicious activity has occurred.

When a forensic investigator analyzes a compromised system, IOCs provide concrete evidence of external attacks or unauthorized access. By identifying these indicators, investigators can trace malicious activities back to their origin, understand the extent of the compromise, and take appropriate corrective measures to secure the system and prevent future incidents.

The other options, while related to data and security, do not serve the same primary function as IOCs. Session data typically refers to the information associated with user sessions and may not specifically indicate compromise. Alert data might inform investigators of potential threats but lacks the distinct association with confirmed indicators of compromise. Event masking refers to techniques used to hide certain events or logs to prevent detection, which does not aid in the identification of security incidents.