What artifact is created in Microsoft Word that could prove the existence of a file even after it is permanently deleted?

The correct choice identifies a LNK file as a significant artifact that can demonstrate the existence of a file even after it has been permanently deleted. LNK files are shortcuts in Windows that contain metadata about the actual files, such as their location and the file path. When a user opens a file, the system creates a linked file (a LNK file) that serves as a reference point for that document. Even if the original file is deleted, the LNK file may still remain on the system, serving as evidence of the file's prior existence, including where it was stored and sometimes when it was last accessed.

This inherent feature of LNK files makes them valuable in forensic investigations since they can establish a timeline of user activity and interactions with particular files, helping to piece together events or actions taken on a system.

Other choices do not serve as definitive indicators of a file's existence after deletion. The Recycle Bin DAT file relates more to items currently in the Recycle Bin than those permanently deleted. A user’s Transaction Log History in Event Viewer can log various actions, but it doesn’t specifically track file existence. Similarly, MRU (Most Recently Used) entries in the Windows Registry catalog recently accessed files but may not reliably indicate that a file existed