ECCouncil 212-89 (EC-Council Certified Incident Handler) Practice Test 17

Question 160

Before detailed examination, an evidence-preservation decision concerns: Several responders entered a restricted office but nobody maintained an access log. What first-response measure minimizes evidence disturbance under the circumstances?

  1. Control the room perimeter and maintain a scene-entry log
  2. Assign a scene custodian and maintain entry/exit logs from first contact
  3. Document the original omission and every reconstruction assumption
  4. Interview participants and reconcile badge records with entry times
  5. Establish a controlled entry point and begin logging all further access

Explanation

Correct Answer

E:

Immediate perimeter discipline limits additional unexplained changes; this preserves handling integrity for whether the scene's integrity can be reconstructed before detailed collection proceeds.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Documented access helps distinguish responders from potential suspects; the activity targets which physical conditions must be documented; immediate evidence protection here concerns whether the scene's integrity can be reconstructed.

B:

Explicit responsibility supports reliable custody evidence; the case needs immediate evidence protection addressing whether the scene's integrity can be reconstructed; prevention cannot replace immediate action.

C:

Transparent gaps are preferable to invented certainty; when judging whether the scene's integrity can be reconstructed, corrective follow-through follows initial protection; this is instead evidence-handling correction.

D:

A reconstructed access list is weaker than contemporaneous logs but still informative; for whether the scene's integrity can be reconstructed, investigation alone does not control current conditions; immediate evidence protection remains necessary.

Question 161

After technical restoration, responders document the weakness exposed by: A floor plan used for evidence collection omits a wireless access point behind a cabinet. Which long-term control would reduce exposure to this specific pattern?

  1. Update the diagram with measured locations and identification numbers
  2. Compare the diagram to a documented room walkthrough and equipment inventory
  3. Validate scene mapping against a physical walkthrough before exit
  4. Require sealed racks and auditable physical access procedures

Explanation

Correct Answer

C:

Cross-checking plans minimizes omitted exhibits; the control owner can test whether this reduces repeat conditions affecting whether the scene diagram accurately describes network context.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Corrected scene maps reduce confusion during later analysis; for whether the scene diagram accurately describes network context, case recovery is not future-risk control; custody-procedure prevention remains necessary.

B:

A missing device may explain connectivity and attack reachability; the requirement concerns whether the scene diagram accurately describes network context, so an investigation is not recurrence prevention.

D:

Physical control reduces tampering opportunities and improves traceability; that method could help with which physical conditions must be documented; the custody-procedure prevention decision here involves whether the scene diagram accurately describes network context.

Question 162

Before any intrusive acquisition, the scene notes state: A sealed hard-drive image is copied to a new repository, but the destination hash is not checked. Which initial forensic observation or acquisition check is supported by these facts?

  1. Restrict analytical use of the new copy until verification completes
  2. Compare cryptographic digests before and after transfer
  3. Automate hash verification on every evidence repository migration
  4. Reconcile serial numbers, case inventory and seal records for both packages

Explanation

Correct Answer

B:

Matching hashes help establish that transport or copying did not change the image; this informs the initial finding about whether an archived copy retains byte integrity without unnecessary disturbance of evidence.

Incorrect Answers

A:

A suspect transfer should not be promoted as a trusted master; for whether an archived copy retains byte integrity, immediate protection does not substantiate findings; scene or evidence validation remains necessary.

C:

Continuous integrity checks detect later bit-level changes; the goal is scene or evidence validation for whether an archived copy retains byte integrity. Prevention is not incident verification.

D:

Ambiguous labels break the reliable link between exhibit and source; that method could help with whether exhibit identity survives packaging; the scene or evidence validation decision here involves whether an archived copy retains byte integrity.

Question 163

After initial scene control, the chain-of-custody owner reviews: An evidence vault stores collected phones beside powered-on radios that may communicate with them. Which THREE steps separately establish the initial facts, protect evidence and resolve the handling gap? (Choose THREE.)

  1. Verify preservation state and document any network exposure after seizure
  2. Preapprove cross-border forensic transfer pathways and contracts
  3. Require timestamped signatures at every change of possession
  4. Inspect device state, radio isolation measures and chain records
  5. Apply an approved radio-isolation method that considers power and device behavior
  6. Maintain tested mobile-device isolation storage and handling methods

Explanation

Correct Answers

A:

A clear record identifies possible changes to phone evidence; within the combined response for whether seized devices can receive remote commands, this supplies evidence-handling correction: the resulting custody or acquisition record should be tested against whether seized devices can receive remote commands.

D:

Uncontrolled connectivity may permit new data, wipes or notifications; within the combined response for whether seized devices can receive remote commands, this supplies scene or evidence validation: the first responder needs evidence bearing on whether seized devices can receive remote commands with source and context recorded.

E:

Proper isolation reduces remote alteration without improvised unsafe modifications; within the combined response for whether seized devices can receive remote commands, this supplies immediate evidence protection: the immediate evidence or scene safeguard follows from whether seized devices can receive remote commands; additional acquisition requires separate authorization.

Incorrect Answers

B:

Prepared procedures avoid delays during time-critical investigations; it is meant to address whether cross-border handling is authorized, not evidence-handling correction for whether seized devices can receive remote commands.

C:

Continuous records establish who controlled the evidence; the activity targets where chain of custody lost accountability; evidence-handling correction here concerns whether seized devices can receive remote commands.

F:

Equipment readiness prevents improvised collection errors; the goal is evidence-handling correction for whether seized devices can receive remote commands. Future hardening is not current-state recovery.

Question 164

A first responder begins a documented assessment of the following: A facility camera captured equipment removal but its footage retention is only twenty-four hours. Which verification or documentation step is required for the stated evidence uncertainty?

  1. Confirm recording coverage and preservation deadline with the camera custodian
  2. Request an authorized export and suspend scheduled overwrite of relevant footage
  3. Hash the exported recording and record export settings and custodian
  4. Compare image metadata, inventory records and device markings
  5. Photograph seals, rack positions, cabling and cabinet access controls
  6. Add short-lived physical security feeds to immediate evidence-preservation checklists

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

Short retention makes delay a direct threat to evidence availability; the resulting observation can be checked against the evidentiary question: what time-sensitive contextual evidence exists.

Incorrect Answers

B:

Preserving a copy protects the incident timeline without altering source devices unnecessarily; immediate protection does not substantiate findings in the decision about what time-sensitive contextual evidence exists.

C:

Integrity and provenance allow later verification of the digital video; the case needs scene or evidence validation addressing what time-sensitive contextual evidence exists; recovery is not factual verification.

D:

A device description without distinguishing identifiers risks misattribution; the relevant condition for that step is how an exhibit is uniquely identified, which is not shown for what time-sensitive contextual evidence exists.

E:

These details may show unauthorized physical interaction before equipment is moved; the activity targets which physical conditions must be documented; scene or evidence validation here concerns what time-sensitive contextual evidence exists.

F:

Early coordination prevents avoidable footage loss; the requirement concerns what time-sensitive contextual evidence exists, so prevention is not incident verification.

Question 165

The initial evidence record needs corroboration after this finding: A responder plans to capture only the Documents folder from a server suspected of covert persistence. What targeted first-responder task best establishes the facts without altering evidence?

  1. Identify relevant system partitions, startup entries and deleted-space needs
  2. Preserve the source drive while a proportionate acquisition plan is approved
  3. Calculate and compare cryptographic hashes for source and forensic image
  4. Train teams to choose logical versus physical acquisition deliberately

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

Persistence may reside outside user files and require broader forensic scope; this informs the initial finding about whether a logical copy covers the suspected artifacts without unnecessary disturbance of evidence.

Incorrect Answers

B:

Prematurely narrowing collection can permanently lose relevant artifacts; the case needs scene or evidence validation addressing whether a logical copy covers the suspected artifacts; immediate protection does not substantiate findings.

C:

Matching digests support that the copied bytes are unchanged within hashing assumptions; the activity targets whether evidence integrity is demonstrable; scene or evidence validation here concerns whether a logical copy covers the suspected artifacts.

D:

Method selection should follow the evidentiary question; for whether a logical copy covers the suspected artifacts, prevention is not incident verification; scene or evidence validation remains necessary.

Question 166

The case requires an immediate custody or preservation safeguard: A facility camera captured equipment removal but its footage retention is only twenty-four hours. The first response requires a documented observation AND evidence or scene protection. Which TWO case-specific measures address those separate needs? (Choose TWO.)

  1. Confirm recording coverage and preservation deadline with the camera custodian
  2. Hash the exported recording and record export settings and custodian
  3. Request an authorized export and suspend scheduled overwrite of relevant footage
  4. Record exact equipment identifiers and condition before removal
  5. Add short-lived physical security feeds to immediate evidence-preservation checklists
  6. Assign a scene custodian and maintain entry/exit logs from first contact

Explanation

Correct Answers

A:

Short retention makes delay a direct threat to evidence availability; within the combined response for what time-sensitive contextual evidence exists, this supplies scene or evidence validation: this informs the initial finding about what time-sensitive contextual evidence exists without unnecessary disturbance of evidence.

C:

Preserving a copy protects the incident timeline without altering source devices unnecessarily; within the combined response for what time-sensitive contextual evidence exists, this supplies immediate evidence protection: this preserves handling integrity for what time-sensitive contextual evidence exists before detailed collection proceeds.

Incorrect Answers

B:

Integrity and provenance allow later verification of the digital video; the goal is immediate evidence protection for what time-sensitive contextual evidence exists. Corrective follow-through follows initial protection.

D:

Unique identifiers prevent mix-ups among similar devices; this serves which physical conditions must be documented, whereas the requested result is immediate evidence protection involving what time-sensitive contextual evidence exists.

E:

Early coordination prevents avoidable footage loss; when judging what time-sensitive contextual evidence exists, prevention cannot replace immediate action; this is instead custody-procedure prevention.

F:

Explicit responsibility supports reliable custody evidence; the relevant condition for that step is whether the scene's integrity can be reconstructed, which is not shown for what time-sensitive contextual evidence exists.

Question 167

An evidence-quality review identifies the need to correct this problem: A sealed evidence bag is opened for analysis, then returned to storage without a new seal identifier. What follow-through step corrects the first-responder evidence gap?

  1. Record examiner, purpose, condition and replacement seal number
  2. Apply corrected unique identifiers with a documented relabeling history
  3. Match entry logs against the original seal and examination schedule
  4. Use evidence check-in forms requiring seal changes and signatures
  5. Stop unsupervised access until the exhibit is resecured

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

Re-sealing history allows later reviewers to understand every opening; the custodian can verify that the evidence gap concerning whether seal integrity can be tracked after examination has been corrected.

Incorrect Answers

B:

Transparent corrections preserve the chain rather than rewriting it; it is meant to address whether exhibit identity survives packaging, not evidence-handling correction for whether seal integrity can be tracked after examination.

C:

Broken seals require a clear documented reason and a new custody sequence; the case needs evidence-handling correction addressing whether seal integrity can be tracked after examination; verification is not the corrective step.

D:

Complete custody metadata prevents unexplained openings; when judging whether seal integrity can be tracked after examination, future hardening is not current-state recovery; this is instead custody-procedure prevention.

E:

Controlled handling restores accountability following opening; for whether seal integrity can be tracked after examination, temporary protection does not complete correction; evidence-handling correction remains necessary.

Question 168

After initial scene control, the chain-of-custody owner reviews: A responder takes screenshots of suspicious web traffic but fails to retain packet captures. Which authorized evidence-handling correction is most defensible?

  1. Acquire a forensic image or targeted system artifacts that answer the scope question
  2. Require original machine-readable network evidence when available
  3. Preserve original pcap files and associated capture configuration
  4. Hash and archive packet captures with clock and sensor-location notes

Explanation

Correct Answer

D:

Sensor context explains visibility and timestamp relationships; the resulting custody or acquisition record should be tested against what traffic evidence screenshots cannot establish.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Collection should cover the suspected behavior and legal authorization; the activity targets whether a logical copy covers the suspected artifacts; evidence-handling correction here concerns what traffic evidence screenshots cannot establish.

B:

Complete artifacts support stronger forensic conclusions than pictures alone; the goal is evidence-handling correction for what traffic evidence screenshots cannot establish. Future hardening is not current-state recovery.

C:

Unaltered packet data supports independent reanalysis; temporary protection does not complete correction in the decision about what traffic evidence screenshots cannot establish.

Question 169

For the next control cycle, the responder supplies this incident history: Investigators find an open notebook with credentials beside a compromised desktop. Which ongoing safeguard should be implemented and tested?

  1. Teach responders to inventory adjacent non-digital artifacts
  2. Photograph the notebook's location relative to the workstation
  3. Package the notebook as a separate labeled exhibit after documentation
  4. Validate scene mapping against a physical walkthrough before exit

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

Physical context can be relevant to cyber incident reconstruction; it makes the lesson about how associated physical context should be preserved part of normal operations.

Incorrect Answers

B:

Position and visible pages may explain access without requiring casual handling; for how associated physical context should be preserved, an investigation is not recurrence prevention; custody-procedure prevention remains necessary.

C:

Separate tracking protects provenance while maintaining the association; the requirement concerns how associated physical context should be preserved, so case recovery is not future-risk control.

D:

Cross-checking plans minimizes omitted exhibits; it is meant to address whether the scene diagram accurately describes network context, not custody-procedure prevention for how associated physical context should be preserved.

Question 170

The initial evidence record needs corroboration after this finding: Two sealed evidence bags have identical labels, and the custodian cannot determine which source drive is which. What targeted first-responder task best establishes the facts without altering evidence?

  1. Use unique barcodes and two-person packaging verification
  2. Reconcile serial numbers, case inventory and seal records for both packages
  3. Match entry logs against the original seal and examination schedule
  4. Quarantine the packages until the identity discrepancy is resolved

Explanation

Correct Answer

B:

Ambiguous labels break the reliable link between exhibit and source; this informs the initial finding about whether exhibit identity survives packaging without unnecessary disturbance of evidence.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Dual checks prevent mix-ups across similar devices; prevention is not incident verification in the decision about whether exhibit identity survives packaging.

C:

Broken seals require a clear documented reason and a new custody sequence; it is meant to address whether seal integrity can be tracked after examination, not scene or evidence validation for whether exhibit identity survives packaging.

D:

Uncertain evidence should not be silently attributed to a device; for whether exhibit identity survives packaging, immediate protection does not substantiate findings; scene or evidence validation remains necessary.

EC-Council Certified Incident Handler (212-89) Practice Tests