This CHFI practice question tests your understanding of mobile and malware forensics. 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 forensic analyst is examining a Windows malware sample using static analysis. Which tool is BEST suited for viewing the PE header structure, including sections, imports, and exports?
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.
Strings
Why wrong: Strings extracts readable text from binaries, not PE header details.
Ghidra
Why wrong: Ghidra is a reverse engineering framework focused on disassembly and decompilation.
IDA Pro
Why wrong: IDA Pro is a disassembler/decompiler, not primarily for PE header viewing.
PEiD
PEiD is a tool for analyzing PE files, detecting packers, and viewing header information.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
PEiD
PEiD is specifically designed to analyze PE (Portable Executable) headers, making it ideal for quickly viewing section tables, import/export tables, and detecting packers or compilers. It parses the IMAGE_NT_HEADERS structure directly, providing a concise summary of the PE layout without requiring disassembly or decompilation.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Strings
Why it's wrong here
Strings extracts readable text from binaries, not PE header details.
Ghidra
Why it's wrong here
Ghidra is a reverse engineering framework focused on disassembly and decompilation.
IDA Pro
Why it's wrong here
IDA Pro is a disassembler/decompiler, not primarily for PE header viewing.
PEiD
Why this is correct
PEiD is a tool for analyzing PE files, detecting packers, and viewing header information.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
EC-Council often tests the distinction between a specialized PE header analysis tool (PEiD) and general-purpose reverse-engineering tools (Ghidra, IDA Pro), leading candidates to choose a more complex tool when a simpler, purpose-built one is correct.
Detailed technical explanation
PEiD reads the IMAGE_DOS_HEADER e_lfanew field to locate the IMAGE_NT_HEADERS, then parses IMAGE_FILE_HEADER and IMAGE_OPTIONAL_HEADER to display section characteristics, RVA-based import/export directories, and subsystem flags. In real-world malware analysis, PEiD is often the first tool used to identify if a sample is packed (e.g., UPX, ASPack) before deeper static analysis, saving time by revealing obfuscation layers early.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Mobile and Malware Forensics — This question tests Mobile and Malware Forensics — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: PEiD — PEiD is specifically designed to analyze PE (Portable Executable) headers, making it ideal for quickly viewing section tables, import/export tables, and detecting packers or compilers. It parses the IMAGE_NT_HEADERS structure directly, providing a concise summary of the PE layout without requiring disassembly or decompilation.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "best". 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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This CHFI practice question is part of Courseiva's free EC-Council certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CHFI exam.
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