MAC AddressIn computer networking a Media Access Control address (MAC address) is a unique identifier attached to most network adapters (NICs).
MagentaUsed in four color printing. Reflects blue & red and absorbs green.
Magnetic/Optical Storage MediaIncludes, but is not limited to, hard drives, backup tapes, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, Jaz and Zip drives.
Magneto-Optical DriveA drive that combines laser and magnetic technology to create high-capacity erasable storage.
MailboxAn area on a storage device where email is placed. In email systems, each user has a private mailbox.
Make-Available ProductionA process whereby what is usually a large universe of all potentially responsive documents are made available to the requestor; from this universe, the…
MAPI (Mail Application Program Interface)A Windows software standard that has become a popular email interface used by MS Exchange, GroupWise, and other email packages.
MAPI Mail Near-LineDocuments stored on optical discs or compact discs that are housed in the jukebox or CD changer and can be retrieved without human intervention.
MarginaliaHandwritten notes in the margin of the page in documents.
Master File Table (MFT)A unique system file that essentially acts as a database, containing information on all the files and subdirectories located within the NTFS logical…
MasteringMaking many copies of a disc from a single master disc.
MD5message-digest algorithm meant for digital signature applications where a large message has to be compressed in a secure manner before being signed with…
MDE (Magnetic Disc Emulation)Software that makes a jukebox look and operate like a hard-drive such that it will respond to all the I/O commands ordinarily sent to a hard drive.
MediaAny organization in the business of informing the public with news or commentary.
Media ConversionMoving data from one type of media to another such as tape to CD.
Megabyte (Meg)One megabyte of data is equal to one million bytes.
memoryData storage in the form of chips, or the actual chips used to hold data; storage is used to describe memory that exists on tapes or discs.
menuA list of options, each of which performs a desired action such as choosing a command or applying a particular format to a part of a document.
MergeThe process of merging various email files into one file for de-duplication purposes.
Message HeaderMessage headers generally contain the identities of the author and recipients, the subject of the message, and the date the message was sent.
Meta dataData about data; resides in the shadows of a document and usually includes information such as, author, recipient, creation date, modified date, etc.
metadataMetadata is information about a particular data set which may describe, for example, how, when, and by whom it was received, created, accessed, and/or…
Metadata ComparisonA method of de-duplication that compares file metadata and ignores content. See De-Duplication.
MFT (Master File Table)Index to files on a computer. If corrupt, a drive may be unusable, yet data may be retrievable using forensic methods.
microficheSheet microfilm (4 by 6) containing reduced images of 270 pages or more in a grid pattern.
Migrated DataData that has been transferred from one database or format to another that is generally done when migrating from one form of hardware or software…
migrationMoving files to another computer application or platform; may require conversion to a different format.
Mirror ImageUsed in computer forensic investigations and some electronic discovery investigations, a mirror image is a bit-by-bit copy of a computer hard drive that…
mirroringThe duplication of data for purposes of backup or to distribute Internet or network traffic among several servers with identical data.
MIS (Management Information Systems)In general, a computer-based system that provides IT personnel with the necessary tools for categorizing, assessing, and efficiently running an…
ModemA device that allows a computer system to transmit data over telephone or cable lines.
MonochromeDisplays capable of only two colors, usually black and white, or black and green.
MosaicA web browser popular before the introduction of Netscape and Internet Explorer.
Mount/MountingThe process of making off-line data available for on-line processing. For example, placing a magnetic tape in a drive and setting up the software to…
MPEG-1 & -2Two different standards for full motion video to digital compression/decompression techniques advanced by the Moving Pictures Experts Group.
MS-DOSMicrosoft (MS)-Disc Operating System. Used in PCs as the control system.