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ISC2 CC Practice Question: During a forensic investigation, it is crucial to…
During a forensic investigation, it is crucial to preserve the original evidence. What is the first step the investigator should take when acquiring a hard drive?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a forensic image using a write blocker
Creating a bit-for-bit forensic image using a write blocker preserves the original evidence. Option D (calculate the hash) is done after imaging to verify integrity. Option A (booting the drive) would modify data and compromise the evidence. Option B (turning off the computer and removing the hard drive) may be necessary but is not the first step in acquisition; the first step is to create a forensic image with a write blocker.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Boot the drive to check for operating system errors
Why it's wrong here
Booting the drive alters file system metadata and timestamps, destroying evidential integrity before imaging. It tempts as a quick sanity check, but powering on is only acceptable after a verified forensic image exists, never as the first acquisition step.
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Turn off the computer and remove the hard drive
Why it's wrong here
Powering off and pulling the drive risks altering volatile data and, on encrypted systems, can trigger loss of keys; it also skips write-blocking. It tempts as the obvious physical acquisition route, but live imaging or a write-blocked copy preserves evidence first.
- ✓
Create a forensic image using a write blocker
Why this is correct
A write blocker prevents any write operation reaching the source drive during imaging, preserving evidentiary integrity. Creating the forensic image first captures a bit-for-bit copy that later analysis can be performed against, leaving the original untouched for verification and legal admissibility.
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Calculate the hash of the original drive
Why it's wrong here
Hashing verifies integrity but happens after imaging, not before; hashing the original first does nothing to preserve it and delays acquisition. It tempts because hashes are central to chain of custody, yet the first step is write-blocking and imaging.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Key term
Forensic image
A forensic image is an exact, bit-for-bit copy of a storage device, including all deleted and hidden data, created and preserved for digital investigation.
Key term
Integrity
Integrity is the assurance that data has not been altered or tampered with in an unauthorized way, preserving its accuracy and consistency from source to destination.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CC practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 CC exam.