The answer is to place the device in a Faraday bag to prevent remote wiping, document the SIM card’s ICCID and IMSI before acquisition, and maintain the device’s power state by not powering it off. These three actions are correct because mobile device evidence acquisition best practices prioritize preserving the device’s current state and preventing any remote or local data alteration. A Faraday bag blocks radio signals, stopping remote wipe commands, while documenting SIM identifiers like the ICCID and IMSI establishes a clear chain of custody before the SIM is disturbed. On the CHFI exam, this question tests your understanding of volatile evidence handling and the order of preservation, often tripping candidates who forget that powering off a device can trigger encryption or lockout. A common trap is assuming you should immediately remove the battery, but modern devices may lose RAM data. Remember the mnemonic “FID” for Faraday, Identify (SIM), and Don’t power off to lock in these three core steps.
CHFI Evidence Acquisition and Duplication Practice Question
This CHFI practice question tests your understanding of evidence acquisition and duplication. 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.
Which THREE of the following are acceptable best practices when acquiring evidence from a mobile device? (Choose three.)
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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Document the SIM card information
Option A is correct because documenting the SIM card information, such as the ICCID (Integrated Circuit Card Identifier) and IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity), is a critical step in establishing chain of custody and preserving evidence that may link the device to a specific subscriber or network. This documentation must occur before any acquisition to ensure the SIM's data is not altered by subsequent imaging or isolation procedures.
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.
✓
Document the SIM card information
Why this is correct
SIM card contains subscriber 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.
✓
Capture a logical image of the device if it is unlocked
Why this is correct
Logical acquisition preserves the file system.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Power off the device immediately to preserve battery
Why it's wrong here
Powering off may trigger encryption.
✓
Place the device in a Faraday bag to prevent remote wiping
Why this is correct
Isolation from networks is critical.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Only perform a physical acquisition, as it is the only forensically sound method
Why it's wrong here
Physical acquisition may not be possible; logical is acceptable.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
EC-Council often tests the misconception that powering off a device is always safe for preservation, when in fact it can trigger encryption and destroy volatile evidence, and that physical acquisition is the only valid forensic method, ignoring the forensic validity of logical acquisitions on unlocked devices.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When a mobile device is powered off, modern Android devices (Android 10+) enable File-Based Encryption (FBE) which requires a fresh unlock credential to decrypt user data, rendering a physical image of the encrypted partition useless without the key. In contrast, a logical acquisition via ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or iTunes backup can extract decrypted data while the device is unlocked, preserving the file system structure without needing to bypass encryption. Faraday bags (option D) are effective for isolating the device from cellular and wireless signals to prevent remote wipe commands (e.g., via MDM or Find My Device), but they do not prevent the device from being unlocked or from executing local actions like auto-lock.
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.
Evidence Acquisition and Duplication — This question tests Evidence Acquisition and Duplication — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Document the SIM card information — Option A is correct because documenting the SIM card information, such as the ICCID (Integrated Circuit Card Identifier) and IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity), is a critical step in establishing chain of custody and preserving evidence that may link the device to a specific subscriber or network. This documentation must occur before any acquisition to ensure the SIM's data is not altered by subsequent imaging or isolation procedures.
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". 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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