In what order should evidence be collected based on volatility?

The correct answer emphasizes the order of evidence collection based on volatility, which is crucial in digital forensics. Evidence should generally be collected starting with the most volatile data and ending with the least volatile.

When collecting evidence, CPU cache is the most volatile because it contains recently used data that will be lost if power is removed. Next in the hierarchy of volatility is RAM, which stores active processes and data currently in use. After RAM, CPU registers hold immediate data needed for processing but are less critical in forensic investigations. Finally, a swap file, which is a portion of the hard drive used as virtual memory, is the least volatile since it is persistent storage and will survive power loss.

Understanding the concept of volatility helps in preserving evidence effectively, adhering to the principle of collecting data that may change or be lost quickly. Collecting evidence in the correct order ensures that the most transient and critical information is secured before it gets overwritten or lost.