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Definition[]

Random Access Memory (RAM) is a

[c]omputer storage device in which words may be 'written' (stored) or 'read' (recovered) in any order at random. Conventional internal memory.”[1]

Overview[]

RAM "consists of integrated circuits that hold temporary instructions and data for the central processing unit (CPU), the central 'brain' of a computer system."[2] "Most types of RAM are volatile, which means they lose all data when the power is turned off or the system shuts down."[3]

Forensic evidence[]

"RAM is the most difficult to capture accurately due to its volatile nature. Since RAM is typically used for program execution, information may be of value to the examiner (e.g., configuration files, passwords, etc.)."[4]

References[]

  1. U.S. Copyright Office, Compendium of Copyright Office Practices II, §326 (1984).
  2. In the Matter of Rambus, Inc., 2006-2 Trade Cases ¶75364 (Aug. 2, 2006).
  3. Id. at n.3.
  4. Mobile device forensics, at 7.

See also[]

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