What is the purpose of sanitizing the target media in the data acquisition process?

The process of sanitizing the target media in data acquisition primarily aims to prepare the media for future use. Sanitization involves removing any existing data on the target media to ensure that it is in a clean state before new data (such as a forensic image) is written to it. This is crucial to avoid any possible contamination of data, which could hinder the authenticity and integrity of the evidence being collected. By ensuring that the target media is free of pre-existing data, forensic professionals can create an accurate and unaltered capture of the evidence, allowing for reliable analysis later.

The other options focus on aspects that, while important in different contexts of data acquisition and handling, do not fully encompass the primary purpose of sanitization in this process. For instance, while preventing data loss during acquisition and ensuring evidence integrity are essential considerations in overall data management, they are not specific to the action of sanitizing the target media. Eliminating redundant data, while useful in data management and optimization, doesn't align with the intent behind preparing a clean slate on the target media prior to imaging or data transfer.