The correct first step is to photograph the screen. This is because volatile evidence—such as open applications, active network connections, and the logged-in user’s current activity—can be lost the moment the system is powered down or altered. By capturing a photograph of the screen, the first responder preserves a baseline of the system’s state, ensuring critical data is documented before any forensic acquisition begins. On the CHFI exam, this scenario tests your understanding of evidence preservation priorities under the Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator framework; a common trap is to immediately pull the plug or log off, which destroys volatile data. Remember the memory tip: “Photo first, power later”—the screen’s snapshot is your first line of defense against data loss.
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 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?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
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
✓
Photograph the screen to document the current state.
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.
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.
✗
Begin capturing a memory dump using a forensic tool.
Why it's wrong here
Documentation should precede active collection.
✗
Power off the computer immediately to preserve the disk.
Why it's wrong here
Powering off destroys volatile evidence in memory.
✓
Photograph the screen to document the current state.
Why this is correct
Documentation of the live state is critical before any collection.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Ask the user to log off so the system can be imaged.
Why it's wrong here
Logging off alters system state and may lose evidence.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
EC-Council often tests the misconception that immediate memory capture or power-off is the correct first step, but the trap here is that the first responder must first document the volatile state of the screen to preserve evidence that can be lost the instant any action is taken.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In digital forensics, the order of volatility (RFC 3227) dictates that registers, cache, and RAM must be captured before persistent storage. Photographing the screen is a non-invasive step that records the current graphical state, including taskbar icons, open windows, and any visible alerts, which can reveal active malware, network connections, or user actions. In a real-world scenario, a screen showing a command prompt with a running netstat output could indicate an active exfiltration attempt, and capturing that image before any interaction is critical.
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: Photograph the screen to document the current state. — 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.
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: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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 →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which TWO actions are essential for a first responder when securing an incident scene involving a compromised server? (Select exactly two.)
hard
A.Run antivirus scans to identify and remove any malware present.
✓ B.Document the system’s date and time settings for accurate timeline reconstruction.
✓ C.Photograph the physical setup, including all cables and peripheral connections.
D.Reboot the system into safe mode to prevent further damage.
E.Connect an external hard drive to create a backup of important files.
Why B: Option B is correct because the system's date and time settings are critical for establishing a reliable timeline of events during forensic analysis. The first responder must document these settings (e.g., from the BIOS or operating system) before any changes occur, as they directly affect the timestamps of file system metadata (MAC times) and log entries. Without this baseline, correlating events across multiple sources becomes unreliable, potentially invalidating the entire investigation.
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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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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