Glossary of Computer Forensics Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Virtual Private Network |
This usually refers to a network in which some of the parts are connected using the public Internet, but the data sent across the Internet is encrypted, so the entire network is ‘virtually’ private. |
| Virus |
A malicious, self-replicating (or in some instances, executable) program with the potential to leave a computer or entire network inoperable. A virus attaches itself and spreads to files, programs, e-mail messages, and other storage media and may drain system resources (disk space, connections, and memory) and modify or wipe out files or display messages. |
| Volatile memory |
Memory that loses its content when power is turned off or lost. |
| Volume boot sector |
Since every partition may contain a different file system, each partition contains a ‘volume boot sector’ that is used to describe the type of file system on the partition and usually contains boot code necessary to mount a file system. This code is different from the Master Boot Record. The job of the volume boot code is to find a file in the root folder (io.sys in the case of DOS) that is then loaded and run to continue the boot process at a higher level. On Linux systems, the LILO boot loader serves the same purpose. It locates the Super Block that describes the rest of the file system. |
