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Fork (file system)

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In computing, an alternate data stream (ADS) is additional data associated with a file system object. The phrase alternate data stream typically refers to a feature of Microsoft's NTFS filesystem, although other filesystems such as Apple's Hierarchical File System (HFS), Novell's Novell Storage Services (NSS) and Veritas Software's Veritas File System (VxFS) all support alternate data streams, some pre-dating Microsoft's implementation.

HFS was designed to use alternate data streams (called resource forks) to store metadata about a file that would be used by the graphical user interface of the Apple Macintosh, such as a file icon or an image preview. However the feature was not limited to GUI data, so additional uses were found, such as splitting a word processing document into the content and the presentation, then storing the presentation information in the resource fork.

Alternate data streams were added to NTFS so that servers running Windows NT could host files for Macintosh users. With Windows 2000, Microsoft starting using the alternate data stream in NTFS to store things like "author" or "title" file attributes or document thumbnail images. Due to their relative obscurity and the fact that they are typically hidden from the user's view, alternate data streams have attracted attention from computer virus writers, who try to attach viruses to crucial system files. Another problem is that the file manipulation tools that come with Windows can not actually remove alternate data streams from a file, they can only remove the entire file or alter the content of an alternate data stream. However there are now a number of third-party tools available that can remove alternate data streams.

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