20+ practice questions focused on Incident Response and First Responder Skills — one of the most tested topics on the Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator CHFI exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation so you learn why the right answer is correct.
Start Incident Response and First Responder Skills PracticeAn analyst receives an alert indicating a suspicious process (PID 3342) is making outbound connections on port 443 to an unknown IP. The system is a Windows 10 workstation. Which first responder action is MOST appropriate?
Explanation: Capturing a full memory dump (option A) is the most appropriate first responder action because it preserves the volatile state of the suspicious process (PID 3342) and its associated artifacts (e.g., network connections, loaded DLLs, encryption keys) before any further system changes occur. This allows forensic analysis to identify the malware's behavior, such as command-and-control (C2) communication over port 443 (HTTPS), without altering evidence. Tools like FTK Imager (Memory Capture) or DumpIt acquire a raw .mem file that can be analyzed with Volatility or Rekall to extract process details, network sockets, and injected code.
A security team suspects a data breach via an external attacker. The incident response plan requires preservation of evidence for legal proceedings. Which order of volatility should the first responder follow?
Explanation: Option C is correct because the order of volatility (OOV) dictates that the most volatile data (memory/registers) must be captured first, followed by network connections, then disk images, and finally backups. This sequence minimizes data loss and ensures evidence integrity for legal proceedings, as volatile data is lost when power is removed.
During an incident response, a first responder needs to collect evidence from a Linux server that is still running. The server has sensitive data and cannot be shut down. Which technique is BEST for acquiring a forensic image of the hard disk?
Explanation: Option B is correct because it uses dd with a 4M block size, which improves acquisition speed while still producing a bit-for-bit forensic image of the entire disk (/dev/sda). The conv=noerror,sync option in A is unnecessary for a live acquisition from a healthy disk and can mask read errors, while B's larger block size is more efficient for imaging a running system without shutdown.
A first responder arrives at a scene where a computer is powered on and a user is logged in. An incident is suspected. What should the responder do FIRST?
Explanation: Option C is correct because the first priority at a live incident scene is to preserve volatile evidence. Photographing the screen captures the current state of the system, including open applications, network connections, and user activity, which can be lost if the system is altered or powered down. This documentation provides a baseline for the investigation and ensures that critical volatile data is recorded before any forensic acquisition begins.
You are responding to a suspected malware infection on a Windows 10 system. The system is still running. Which of the following should you collect FIRST?
Explanation: When a system is still running and suspected of malware infection, the first priority is to capture volatile data, which includes the contents of RAM. WinPmem is a tool designed to acquire a memory dump from a live Windows system, preserving critical evidence such as running processes, network connections, and injected code that would be lost on shutdown. This follows the order of volatility (RFC 3227), which mandates collecting memory before any non-volatile data like logs, registry, or disk images.
+15 more Incident Response and First Responder Skills questions available
Practice all Incident Response and First Responder Skills questions1. Baseline your knowledge
Start with 10 questions to gauge your current understanding of Incident Response and First Responder Skills. This tells you whether you need a concept refresher or just practice.
2. Review every explanation
For each question — right or wrong — read the full explanation. Understanding why an answer is correct is more valuable than knowing the answer itself.
3. Focus on exam traps
Incident Response and First Responder Skills questions on the CHFI frequently use trap wording. Look for subtle differences in answers that test your precision, not just general knowledge.
4. Reach 80% consistently
Do repeated sessions until you score 80%+ three times in a row. Then move to mixed-mode practice to test cross-topic recall under realistic conditions.
The exact number varies per candidate. Incident Response and First Responder Skills is tested as part of the Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator CHFI blueprint. Practicing with targeted Incident Response and First Responder Skills questions ensures you can handle any format or difficulty that appears.
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Difficulty is subjective, but Incident Response and First Responder Skills is a high-priority exam concept tested in multiple ways — direct recall, scenario analysis, and command-output interpretation. Consistent practice is the best way to build confidence.
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