The correct action is to compute a SHA-256 hash of the acquired image immediately after collection and record it in the chain of custody form. This works because hashing generates a unique cryptographic fingerprint of the data; any subsequent alteration, no matter how minor, will produce a completely different hash, providing mathematical proof of evidence integrity. On the CHFI exam, this concept tests your understanding that chain of custody is not just about paperwork but about verifiable, tamper-proof controls—a common trap is confusing logical access controls or physical seals with the cryptographic guarantee that only hashing provides. Remember that while write-blockers prevent alteration during acquisition, only hashing creates an immutable baseline that can be independently verified later in court. Memory tip: Hash it, stash it, and match it later—if the hash changes, the evidence is compromised.
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.
During an incident response, a first responder needs to preserve the integrity of evidence. Which action ensures the best chain of custody?
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
✓
Compute a SHA-256 hash of the acquired image immediately after collection and record it in the chain of custody form.
Option B is correct because computing a SHA-256 hash immediately after acquisition creates a cryptographic fingerprint of the image. This hash, when recorded in the chain of custody form, provides verifiable integrity: any subsequent alteration of the image will produce a different hash, proving tampering. While other steps are important, only hashing directly ties the evidence's integrity to a mathematical proof that can be independently verified later.
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.
✗
Use a write blocker when acquiring the disk image.
Why it's wrong here
Write blockers prevent modification during acquisition but do not provide an integrity check after.
✓
Compute a SHA-256 hash of the acquired image immediately after collection and record it in the chain of custody form.
Why this is correct
Hashing provides a verifiable integrity check.
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.
✗
Document every person who handled the evidence.
Why it's wrong here
Documentation is important but does not verify data integrity.
✗
Place the evidence in an evidence bag and lock it in a secure room.
Why it's wrong here
Physical security does not guarantee data integrity; hashing is needed.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
EC-Council often tests the distinction between evidence preservation techniques (write blockers, secure storage) and evidence integrity verification (hashing), leading candidates to confuse physical protection with cryptographic proof of integrity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SHA-256 produces a 256-bit (32-byte) hash value that is computationally infeasible to reverse or collide with another input. In forensic practice, the hash is computed using tools like `sha256sum` (Linux) or `Get-FileHash -Algorithm SHA256` (PowerShell), and the output is recorded in the chain of custody form alongside the investigator's signature and timestamp. A real-world scenario: if a defense attorney challenges the evidence, the prosecution can re-hash the image in court and compare it to the original hash; a match proves no tampering occurred during custody.
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: Compute a SHA-256 hash of the acquired image immediately after collection and record it in the chain of custody form. — Option B is correct because computing a SHA-256 hash immediately after acquisition creates a cryptographic fingerprint of the image. This hash, when recorded in the chain of custody form, provides verifiable integrity: any subsequent alteration of the image will produce a different hash, proving tampering. While other steps are important, only hashing directly ties the evidence's integrity to a mathematical proof that can be independently verified later.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.