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Windows Swap (Page) File – Microsoft Windows-based computer operating systems utilize a special file as a "scratch pad" to write data when additional random access memory is needed, called Windows Swap Files or Windows Page Files. Windows Swap and Page Files are potentially very large and most computer users are unaware of their existence and the potential exists for these huge files to contain remnants of word processing, email messages, Internet browsing activity, database entries, and almost any other work that may have occurred during past Windows work sessions. This situation creates a significant security problem since the potential exists for data to be transparently stored within the Windows Swap File without the knowledge of the computer user, which can occur even if the work product was stored on a computer network server. The result is a significant computer security weakness that can be of benefit to the computer forensics specialist.
Wipe – Slang term for deliberately overwriting a piece of media and removing any trace of files or files fragments.
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