Digital Forensic Certification Practice Exam

What is the purpose of a write blocker during forensic data acquisition?

1. To allow unrestricted access to the hard drive

2. To ensure read-only access and prevent modification

3. To encrypt data before acquisition

4. To remove extraneous data from the hard drive

The correct answer is: To ensure read-only access and prevent modification

A write blocker is a critical tool used in digital forensics to ensure the integrity of data during the acquisition process. Its primary function is to provide read-only access to the storage device, preventing any modification of the data on that device. This is essential in forensic investigations, as any alteration to the original evidence could compromise the validity of the findings. The use of a write blocker makes it impossible for any writes (i.e., modifications, deletions, or additions of data) to occur on the hard drive while it is being accessed for forensic purposes. This safeguards the original data, ensuring that forensic analysts can perform their examination and analysis based on the original, unaltered evidence. In contrast, options that suggest unrestricted access or data encryption do not align with the purpose of a write blocker. Allowing unrestricted access could lead to accidental modifications, while encrypting data doesn't directly address the integrity of the original data during acquisition. Similarly, the removal of extraneous data from the hard drive falls outside the scope of what a write blocker is designed to do, as its main goal is to protect the information on the disk rather than manipulate it.