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 TWO of the following are valid reasons for using a hardware write blocker during disk acquisition? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
It allows the source drive to be connected to a forensic workstation without risking modification
A hardware write blocker is a device that sits between the source drive and the forensic workstation, intercepting and blocking any write commands from the host operating system. This ensures that the source drive is connected in a read-only state, preventing any accidental modifications to the evidence during acquisition. Option C correctly identifies this core function of preserving the integrity of the source drive.
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.
✗
It compresses the acquired data to save storage space
Why it's wrong here
Compression is a feature of imaging tools, not write blockers.
✗
It increases the speed of data acquisition
Why it's wrong here
Write blockers do not affect transfer speed.
✓
It allows the source drive to be connected to a forensic workstation without risking modification
Why this is correct
The write blocker presents the drive as read-only to the host system.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
It prevents any accidental writes to the source drive
Why this is correct
Hardware write blockers physically prevent write commands from reaching the drive.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
It creates a forensic image of the drive
Why it's wrong here
The write blocker does not create an image; it only prevents writes.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
EC-Council often tests the distinction between the function of a hardware write blocker (write prevention) and the function of forensic imaging software (image creation and compression), leading candidates to incorrectly attribute software features to the hardware device.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, a hardware write blocker uses a bridge controller that filters SCSI commands (e.g., WRITE(10), WRITE(16)) at the bus level, returning a 'command not supported' or 'write protected' status to the host. In real-world scenarios, if a write blocker fails or is not used, a simple OS mount can trigger automatic writes like last access time updates (NTFS) or journal writes (ext4), which would alter the source drive's hash value and break the chain of 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.
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: It allows the source drive to be connected to a forensic workstation without risking modification — A hardware write blocker is a device that sits between the source drive and the forensic workstation, intercepting and blocking any write commands from the host operating system. This ensures that the source drive is connected in a read-only state, preventing any accidental modifications to the evidence during acquisition. Option C correctly identifies this core function of preserving the integrity of the source drive.
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.
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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