What is one of the purposes of using hash values?

Using hash values serves several important purposes in digital forensics, one of which is to filter good files from bad files. When a file is hashed, it is converted into a fixed-length string of characters that uniquely represents the file's content. This unique hash value allows forensic investigators to create a reference database of known good (legitimate) files and known bad (malicious or harmful) files.

When investigating a system or analyzing data, forensic professionals can compare the hash values of files against this database. If a file's hash matches one in the known bad category, it can be flagged as potentially harmful or unwanted. Conversely, if it matches a known good file, it can be deemed safe or legitimate. This use of hash values is crucial for efficiently sorting through large amounts of data and focusing on files that warrant further examination, thereby streamlining the investigative process.

Other options, while relevant to different aspects of digital forensics, do not accurately describe the primary purpose of hash values in this context. For example, hash values do not determine file size, recover deleted files, or reconstruct file structures. Instead, they are specifically beneficial for integrity verification and the identification of files, which makes filtering between good and bad files a key application.