Quick Answer
The correct answer is hearsay evidence, because it refers to information reported by someone else rather than directly observed by the witness. In digital forensics, this technical concept applies when a forensic analyst or witness testifies about what another person said regarding an event, rather than recounting their own firsthand knowledge—such as quoting a system administrator’s claim about a log entry without having seen the log themselves. On the CHFI exam, this tests your understanding of evidence admissibility under the Federal Rules of Evidence, often appearing in questions about witness testimony versus direct digital artifacts. A common trap is confusing hearsay with documentary evidence, but remember: hearsay is about out-of-court statements offered for their truth, not the document itself. For a memory tip, think “hearsay = hear-say” as in “I heard someone say,” meaning it’s secondhand and generally inadmissible unless an exception applies.
This CHFI practice question tests your understanding of computer forensics fundamentals and process. 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 type of evidence is based on information that is not directly from an eyewitness but is reported by someone else?
Direct evidence
Why wrong: Direct evidence is firsthand, such as an eyewitness account.
Circumstantial evidence
Why wrong: Circumstantial evidence implies a fact but does not directly prove it.
Best evidence
Why wrong: Best evidence refers to the original document or recording.
Hearsay evidence
Hearsay is out-of-court statement offered for the truth of the matter.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Hearsay evidence
Hearsay evidence is defined as a statement made outside of court that is presented to prove the truth of the matter asserted. In digital forensics, this applies when a witness testifies about what another person said regarding an event, rather than recounting their own direct observation. The CHFI exam categorizes this under evidence types because it is not based on the witness's firsthand knowledge, making it generally inadmissible unless an exception applies.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Direct evidence
Why it's wrong here
Direct evidence is firsthand, such as an eyewitness account.
Circumstantial evidence
Why it's wrong here
Circumstantial evidence implies a fact but does not directly prove it.
Best evidence
Why it's wrong here
Best evidence refers to the original document or recording.
Hearsay evidence
Why this is correct
Hearsay is out-of-court statement offered for the truth of the matter.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
EC-Council often tests the distinction between hearsay and circumstantial evidence, where candidates mistakenly choose circumstantial because they think any indirect information is circumstantial, but the key differentiator is that hearsay specifically involves a secondhand statement, not an inference from physical evidence.
Detailed technical explanation
In computer forensics, hearsay evidence often arises when an investigator testifies about statements made by a system administrator or user regarding system logs or file access, rather than presenting the logs themselves. Under the Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE 801-807), hearsay is generally inadmissible unless it falls under exceptions like business records (FRE 803(6)) or public records (FRE 803(8)), which require the original records to be properly authenticated. A real-world scenario is when a forensic analyst relies on a witness's verbal report of a user's login time instead of extracting the actual authentication logs from the system, which would be considered hearsay and potentially excluded.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Computer Forensics Fundamentals and Process — This question tests Computer Forensics Fundamentals and Process — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Hearsay evidence — Hearsay evidence is defined as a statement made outside of court that is presented to prove the truth of the matter asserted. In digital forensics, this applies when a witness testifies about what another person said regarding an event, rather than recounting their own direct observation. The CHFI exam categorizes this under evidence types because it is not based on the witness's firsthand knowledge, making it generally inadmissible unless an exception applies.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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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