The correct answer is that this command is not recommended in forensic acquisition as it may destroy potential evidence. The 'adb shell dumpsys batterystats --reset' command clears the device’s battery statistics logs, which contain historical timestamps and app usage patterns that can serve as critical evidence in an investigation. In Android forensic acquisition, any command that modifies or deletes data on the device is considered destructive, and this reset operation directly violates the core forensic principle of preserving the original state of evidence. On the Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator CHFI exam, this question tests your understanding of acquisition integrity and the dangers of using ADB commands that alter system logs. A common trap is assuming that resetting battery stats is harmless or helpful for clearing irrelevant data, but examiners must recognize that even seemingly minor resets can destroy temporal evidence. Memory tip: think of "BATTERY" as "Be Aware: Timestamps, Timelines, and Evidence are Really Yours" — never reset what you might need to reconstruct.
CHFI Mobile and Malware Forensics Practice Question
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.
During an Android forensic examination, the analyst uses ADB to run 'adb shell dumpsys batterystats --reset' before acquiring data. What is the MOST likely purpose of this command?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
This command is not recommended in forensic acquisition as it may destroy potential evidence
Option B is correct because the 'adb shell dumpsys batterystats --reset' command clears the battery statistics logs on the device. In forensic acquisition, any command that modifies or deletes data on the device is considered destructive to evidence. The reset operation removes historical battery data that may contain timestamps and app usage patterns, which could be critical evidence. Therefore, this command is not recommended in forensic acquisition as it may destroy potential 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.
✗
To clear battery logs that may contain evidence of app activity
Why it's wrong here
Resetting battery stats removes that data, which could be evidence; this is contrary to forensic preservation.
✓
This command is not recommended in forensic acquisition as it may destroy potential evidence
Why this is correct
Resetting battery stats erases historical battery data, which could include evidence of app usage or timestamps.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
To ensure the device is in a low-power state for safe extraction
Why it's wrong here
Safety is not related to battery stats reset.
✗
To optimize device performance during imaging
Why it's wrong here
Forensic imaging should not involve optimization steps that alter data.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
EC-Council often tests the misconception that clearing logs is a benign or preparatory step, when in fact any command that modifies device state during acquisition violates forensic best practices and may be considered evidence spoliation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 'dumpsys batterystats' subsystem in Android collects detailed power consumption data per app, including timestamps of wake locks, CPU usage, and network activity. Resetting this data with '--reset' deletes all historical records, which could be used to correlate app behavior with specific times or events in an investigation. In a real-world scenario, an examiner might inadvertently destroy evidence of a malicious app's background activity by running this command before imaging.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CHFI question in full detail.
Mobile and Malware Forensics — This question tests Mobile and Malware Forensics — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: This command is not recommended in forensic acquisition as it may destroy potential evidence — Option B is correct because the 'adb shell dumpsys batterystats --reset' command clears the battery statistics logs on the device. In forensic acquisition, any command that modifies or deletes data on the device is considered destructive to evidence. The reset operation removes historical battery data that may contain timestamps and app usage patterns, which could be critical evidence. Therefore, this command is not recommended in forensic acquisition as it may destroy potential 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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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