Define ‘hash collision’ in the context of digital forensics.

In the context of digital forensics, a hash collision refers to the situation where two different sets of data produce the same hash value. This phenomenon is significant because hash functions are designed to generate unique hash values for distinct inputs, ensuring data integrity and authenticity. When a hash collision occurs, it undermines the reliability of the hash function used to verify the integrity of data. For example, if an investigator verifies a digital document's integrity through its hash value and a hash collision exists, a malicious actor could potentially substitute the document with another that produces the same hash. Such compromises can create serious security vulnerabilities and misinformation in digital evidence analysis, highlighting the importance of using strong hash functions with a low probability of collision in forensic applications.