What is the term used to describe data that remains on a storage device even after it's been deleted?

Residual data refers to the remnants of data that remain on a storage device after the original data has been deleted. This type of data is often not immediately removed or overwritten when a user deletes files. Instead, the space that the data occupied is marked as available, but the actual data can still be recovered using forensic techniques until it is overwritten by new data. This characteristic of residual data is crucial in the context of digital forensics, as it poses potential security and privacy risks, making it essential for forensic experts to understand this phenomenon when investigating cases of data breaches or unauthorized data access.

In contrast, active data refers to files and information that are currently in use or accessible on a system. Lost data generally describes data that is no longer obtainable or accessible due to errors or corruption, while cached data refers to temporary data stored to speed up processes but does not necessarily imply that the data is recoverable after deletion. Understanding these distinctions helps in comprehending the implications of data management and recovery in digital forensic investigations.