Memory Dump Formats and Memory Acquisition Types

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Different tools output memory dumps in different formats, this can include .raw, .bin, .dmp, and .mem. Each type of dump has its own advantages and disadvantages.
.raw memory dumps are the most complete type of dump, but they are also the largest in size. They contain all of the data from a memory snapshot, including data that may not be needed for analysis.
.bin memory dumps are smaller than .raw dumps, but they still contain a lot of data that may not be needed.
.dmp memory dumps are even smaller, and they only contain the data that is necessary for analysis.
.mem memory dumps are the smallest type of dump, and they only contain the data that is needed to reconstruct the process’s virtual memory.
Windows memory crash dumps are created when Windows detects a critical error that could lead to a system crash. These dumps contain information about the state of the system at the time of the crash.
When a computer hibernates, it saves the contents of its memory to a hibernation file so that it can be restored when the computer is turned on again. This file typically contains information about any open programs and unsaved data.
Local memory acquisition is the process of acquiring data from a digital device's local memory, such as the device's RAM. This data can be acquired through a number of methods, such as live acquisition or cold acquisition. Live acquisition is the process of acquiring data from a digital device while it is powered on and in use. Cold acquisition is the process of acquiring data from a digital device that is powered off. Local memory acquisition is a critical part of digital forensics, as it can provide valuable information about what a digital device was used for and how it was used.
Remote memory acquisition is a digital forensics technique used to collect evidence from a device that is not physically accessible. This can be done by extracting data from a remote server or by using special software to copy the contents of a device’s memory.
Remote memory acquisition is a vital tool in digital forensics, as it allows investigators to collect evidence from devices that would otherwise be inaccessible. This technique can be used to collect data from servers, laptops, and even smartphones.