Question

Place the following items in the correct order of volatility in the gathering of potential evidence:

O swap/page file
O remote logs
O archived data
O random access memory
O hard drive

Answer 1

Items arranged in order of volatility from most to least are: Random Access Memory (RAM), swap/page file, hard drive, archived data, and remote logs. This ranking is crucial for forensic analysis to prioritize data collection and maintain evidence integrity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student has asked for a list of items to be placed in order of their volatility in the context of gathering potential digital forensic evidence. Volatility in this context refers to how long certain types of data persist without power or after a system has been shut down. It's important for forensic analysis, as some data can be lost or overwritten more quickly than others.

1. Random Access Memory (RAM)
2. Swap/page file
3. Hard drive
4. Archived data
5. Remote logs

The list above is organized from the most volatile to the least volatile. RAM loses its data immediately upon loss of power, making it the most volatile. The swap/page file is also quite volatile because it's used for temporary storage and can be overwritten. Hard drives retain data without power and are less volatile compared to RAM and the swap/page file. Archived data and remote logs are typically stored in more permanent and secure environments, which makes them less volatile in nature. It's crucial to gather evidence correctly, maintaining the integrity and chain of custody of the data.