Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI) Practice Exam 2025 – The Complete All-in-One Guide to Exam Mastery!

The correct answer relates to the concept of slack space, which is the space within a cluster that is not actually used by the file data. In this scenario, the file only requires 10 K of storage, but because the smallest unit of allocation is a cluster of 32 K, the entire cluster must be allocated to the file. Therefore, the allocated space ends up being 32 K, even though only 10 K is utilized for the actual file content.

The remaining space in the cluster, which is 22 K, is considered slack space. This residual area represents inefficiency in disk usage because it is reserved for the file but not used by it. Understanding this concept is essential for a forensic investigator, as slack space can sometimes contain remnants of previously deleted files or fragments of data, which may be crucial for investigations.

The other options do not accurately describe the situation. Deleted space would refer to sectors that have been marked for deletion but not yet reused. Cluster space simply refers to the space allocated in clusters regardless of usage, and sector space describes the physical divisions on a storage medium, which doesn't apply to the specific scenario of file allocation and utilization.