The correct procedure is to seize the powered-off computer and transport it to a forensic lab for imaging. This is because booting the system, even with a live CD, writes new data to the hard drive, altering critical system files, timestamps, and potentially overwriting deleted evidence—a violation of forensic integrity. On the CHFI exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the “order of volatility” and the principle that a powered-off system is a pristine evidence source; the common trap is thinking you need to boot it to capture volatile data, but since the system is off, that data is already lost. The key memory tip is “Don’t Boot, Seize”—if the computer is already off, your only job is to bag it, tag it, and let the lab handle the imaging under controlled conditions.
CHFI Incident Response and First Responder Skills Practice Question
This CHFI practice question tests your understanding of incident response and first responder skills. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A first responder is called to investigate a potential insider threat. The suspect's computer is turned off. What is the BEST procedure?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Seize the computer and transport it to a forensic lab for imaging.
When a suspect's computer is already turned off, the best procedure is to seize it and transport it to a forensic lab for imaging. This preserves the integrity of the evidence by preventing any accidental modification of the hard drive's contents, which could occur if the system is powered on or booted from a live CD. In forensic best practices, the first responder should never boot a suspect's computer, as doing so can alter critical system files, timestamps, and volatile data, compromising the chain of custody and admissibility of evidence.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Compute a hash of the hard drive using a live CD.
Why it's wrong here
This requires booting the system, which may alter evidence.
✗
Check the power cord and peripherals for tampering.
Why it's wrong here
While physical inspection is important, the priority is to seize the system.
✓
Seize the computer and transport it to a forensic lab for imaging.
Why this is correct
Proper procedure is to seize and preserve the system for controlled analysis.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Turn on the computer to see if it boots normally.
Why it's wrong here
Powering on may write data to disk and alter evidence.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
EC-Council often tests the misconception that booting from a live CD is safe because it doesn't touch the hard drive, but in reality, even a live CD can modify the system's registry, page file, or metadata through normal operation, which is why seizing the computer for lab imaging is the only forensically sound option.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In digital forensics, the 'first responder' must adhere to the 'order of volatility' and the principle of 'do no harm.' For a powered-off system, the hard drive is in a static state, and any boot process—whether from the internal drive or a live CD—will cause the operating system to write data (e.g., prefetch files, event logs, temporary files) that can overwrite deleted or hidden evidence. The correct procedure is to physically remove the hard drive in a controlled lab environment using a write blocker to create a forensic image (e.g., via dd or FTK Imager) before any analysis, ensuring the original evidence remains unaltered.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the CHFI exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CHFI question in full detail.
Incident Response and First Responder Skills — This question tests Incident Response and First Responder Skills — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Seize the computer and transport it to a forensic lab for imaging. — When a suspect's computer is already turned off, the best procedure is to seize it and transport it to a forensic lab for imaging. This preserves the integrity of the evidence by preventing any accidental modification of the hard drive's contents, which could occur if the system is powered on or booted from a live CD. In forensic best practices, the first responder should never boot a suspect's computer, as doing so can alter critical system files, timestamps, and volatile data, compromising the chain of custody and admissibility of evidence.
What should I do if I get this CHFI question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best", "first". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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