touch tips — authorized timestamp literacy

Last updated: · By the BinBench editorial team · Stars and releases checked via the GitHub API
For legal, authorized and educational use only. Only analyze software you own or have written permission to examine.
Quick answer

touch helps authorized labs sample create / mtime updates on files they own. Pair with stat-file-tips, mktemp-tips, and sync-tips. Prefer syllabus temps — never forge timestamps on shared trees you do not administer.

On this page

Snapshot

FieldValue
Surfacetouch tip checklist
JobAuthorized timestamp literacy
stat peerstat-file-tips
mktemp peermktemp-tips
sync peersync-tips

Tip checklist (authorized only)

  1. Confirm you may create/update the file (lab VM / your sample / courseware).
  2. Prefer touch FILE / touch -t MMDDhhmm FILE on syllabus temps — never production forensics targets.
  3. Record whether create vs mtime update; quote short Evidence.
  4. Optional: inspect → stat-file-tips; temp path → mktemp-tips.
  5. Optional: flush → sync-tips; fill → dd-tips.
  6. Optional: type → file-cmd-tips.
  7. Redact sensitive path labels before sharing.
  8. Stop at literacy — no anti-forensic timestamp cookbooks.

Allowed framing

  • Classroom labs creating an empty syllabus marker file.
  • Binding touch create/mtime notes as Evidence.
  • Documenting "touch: Permission denied" as a valid lab outcome.
  • Comparing touch ↔ stat under one binder.

Scope we will not cover

  • No crack/pirate/keygen via touch.
  • No anti-forensic / unauthorized timestamp-forge PoCs.
  • No credential-theft via touch tricks.
  • No intentional touch against trees you do not own.

Beginner path (authorized only)

  1. Obtain one syllabus-approved lab VM you control.
  2. Run t=$(mktemp); touch "$t"; stat -c %y "$t"; rm -f "$t"; quote mtime.
  3. Bind touch notes as Evidence; redact sensitive labels.
  4. Optional: compare with stat-file-tips / mktemp-tips.
  5. Stop at literacy — no forge cookbooks for foreign trees.
Which to pick
  • Prefer authorized, temp-only, redacted Evidence.
  • Use stat / mktemp / sync peers when the syllabus asks.
  • No exploit, crack, or unauthorized-forge framing.

For legal, authorized and educational use only.

FAQ

What is a "touch tip" page in BinBench framing?

A checklist for creating/updating timestamps on authorized lab files on hosts you own — not a cookbook for forging timestamps on hosts you do not control.

How does this relate to stat-file-tips / mktemp-tips?

stat-file-tips covers metadata reads; mktemp-tips covers temp paths. This page zooms on touch create/mtime Evidence — it does not overwrite those pages.

Can I touch-forge other users\' production files I do not administer?

No. Authorization first. BinBench will not publish unauthorized timestamp-forge recipes.

Does this teach exploit / anti-forensic timestamp PoCs?

No. Mentions of exploit/anti-forensics appear only as refusals. Lab temps only.

Does this teach credential theft via touch tricks?

No. Redact path names before sharing.

Sources