ECCouncil 212-89 (EC-Council Certified Incident Handler) Practice Test 20

Question 190

The case requires an immediate custody or preservation safeguard: An imaging technician forgets to capture firmware settings on a machine suspected of boot-level tampering. The first response requires a documented observation AND evidence or scene protection. Which TWO case-specific measures address those separate needs? (Choose TWO.)

  1. Add boot and firmware checks to relevant acquisition playbooks
  2. Record firmware version, boot order, secure-boot state and configuration
  3. Collect supported firmware artifacts and storage images as separate evidence
  4. Exercise VM snapshot collection in the incident response runbook
  5. Restrict firmware updates or resets pending approved capture

Explanation

Correct Answers

B:

Boot behavior can be controlled by firmware data not visible in a normal disk image; within the combined response for which evidence exists outside the main filesystem, this supplies scene or evidence validation: the first responder needs evidence bearing on which evidence exists outside the main filesystem with source and context recorded.

E:

Configuration changes could remove indicators and change boot behavior; within the combined response for which evidence exists outside the main filesystem, this supplies immediate evidence protection: the immediate evidence or scene safeguard follows from which evidence exists outside the main filesystem; additional acquisition requires separate authorization.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Risk-based collection covers low-level persistence cases; when judging which evidence exists outside the main filesystem, prevention cannot replace immediate action; this is instead custody-procedure prevention.

C:

Multiple sources help distinguish disk infection from firmware compromise; the requirement concerns which evidence exists outside the main filesystem, so corrective follow-through follows initial protection.

D:

Rehearsal reveals guest-consistency and retention limitations; the other incident centers on whether the snapshot is consistent and authenticated, not this immediate evidence protection question about which evidence exists outside the main filesystem.

Question 191

The first-response lead needs an authorized protection step for this case: A laptop evidence drive is transported without anti-static protection and later fails to mount. Which TWO actions establish relevant evidence and immediately protect the material from further disturbance? (Choose TWO.)

  1. Train custodians on media-specific packaging and environmental controls
  2. Dry and stabilize records using approved conservation practice before long-term storage
  3. Review packaging material, shock exposure and condition at each transfer
  4. Use unique barcodes and two-person packaging verification
  5. Secure remaining components in appropriate anti-static and padded packaging
  6. Document damage and use specialized recovery without altering originals

Explanation

Correct Answers

C:

Improper transport can damage hardware and compromise recoverability; within the combined response for whether packaging protected fragile electronic components, this supplies scene or evidence validation: the resulting observation can be checked against the evidentiary question: whether packaging protected fragile electronic components.

E:

Physical protection is part of evidence preservation; within the combined response for whether packaging protected fragile electronic components, this supplies immediate evidence protection: the first-response protection addresses whether packaging protected fragile electronic components without prematurely altering the scene.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Correct materials reduce avoidable loss during transport; for whether packaging protected fragile electronic components, prevention cannot replace immediate action; immediate evidence protection remains necessary.

B:

Preservation choices must not erase markings or provenance; this serves whether packaging will accelerate physical degradation, whereas the requested result is immediate evidence protection involving whether packaging protected fragile electronic components.

D:

Dual checks prevent mix-ups across similar devices; this serves whether exhibit identity survives packaging, whereas the requested result is immediate evidence protection involving whether packaging protected fragile electronic components.

F:

Condition changes and recovery methods must be disclosed; when judging whether packaging protected fragile electronic components, corrective follow-through follows initial protection; this is instead evidence-handling correction.

Question 192

A long-term control assessment uses this recent event: A first responder reaches an unlocked laptop displaying a suspected extortion note in a busy office. Which change provides measurable prevention rather than an emergency workaround?

  1. Use a scene documentation checklist with initial-state photographs
  2. Photograph the screen, cable connections and device position before changing state
  3. Establish transaction-safe scene isolation procedures for customer terminals
  4. Acquire authorized volatile data before deciding on power removal

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

Consistent records support later reconstruction and testimony; the control owner can test whether this reduces repeat conditions affecting the original observable state of a live scene.

Incorrect Answers

B:

Images preserve transient context that will be altered during collection; an investigation is not recurrence prevention in the decision about the original observable state of a live scene.

C:

Prepared replacements avoid pressure to keep compromised devices in use; that method could help with whether the potential scene is still being altered; the custody-procedure prevention decision here involves the original observable state of a live scene.

D:

A live machine may hold keys and process artifacts not present on disk; when judging the original observable state of a live scene, case recovery is not future-risk control; this is instead evidence-handling correction.

Question 193

A first responder begins a documented assessment of the following: Investigators need to transport wet paper records found with a compromised access badge. Which initial forensic observation or acquisition check is supported by these facts?

  1. Record moisture condition and consult qualified conservation procedures
  2. Include non-electronic evidence specialists in response contacts
  3. Keep items separated in suitable breathable packaging under expert guidance
  4. Review packaging material, shock exposure and condition at each transfer

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

Sealing wet paper improperly can cause deterioration or contamination; this informs the initial finding about whether packaging will accelerate physical degradation without unnecessary disturbance of evidence.

Incorrect Answers

B:

Mixed physical and digital incidents need appropriate handling expertise; the requirement concerns whether packaging will accelerate physical degradation, so prevention is not incident verification.

C:

Material-appropriate preservation protects the original evidence; the goal is scene or evidence validation for whether packaging will accelerate physical degradation. Immediate protection does not substantiate findings.

D:

Improper transport can damage hardware and compromise recoverability; the activity targets whether packaging protected fragile electronic components; scene or evidence validation here concerns whether packaging will accelerate physical degradation.

Question 194

The custodian is restoring a defensible collection record following: An investigator ships an exhibit internationally without checking restrictions on sensitive data and custody documentation. What acquisition, packaging, preservation or custody repair is required?

  1. Record a truthful corrective custody account without backdating signatures
  2. Preapprove cross-border forensic transfer pathways and contracts
  3. Hold shipment pending legal and evidence-custodian approval
  4. Use approved routes with sealed packaging and documented transfers

Explanation

Correct Answer

D:

Legitimate movement must maintain both legal compliance and provenance; this correction supports an authenticated evidence trail for whether cross-border handling is authorized before handling is closed.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Transparent reconstruction is essential to evidentiary credibility; it is meant to address where chain of custody lost accountability, not evidence-handling correction for whether cross-border handling is authorized.

B:

Prepared procedures avoid delays during time-critical investigations; the case needs evidence-handling correction addressing whether cross-border handling is authorized; future hardening is not current-state recovery.

C:

Preservation is preferable to an unauthorized international transfer; when judging whether cross-border handling is authorized, temporary protection does not complete correction; this is instead immediate evidence protection.

Question 195

An evidence-quality review identifies the need to correct this problem: A sealed server disk is handed to a courier without any recorded transfer signature. What must be verified before the evidence handling is complete?

  1. Record a truthful corrective custody account without backdating signatures
  2. Secure the item and suspend further informal transfers
  3. Require timestamped signatures at every change of possession
  4. Use approved routes with sealed packaging and documented transfers

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

Transparent reconstruction is essential to evidentiary credibility; this correction supports an authenticated evidence trail for where chain of custody lost accountability before handling is closed.

Incorrect Answers

B:

Controlled custody limits new uncertainty; the requirement concerns where chain of custody lost accountability, so temporary protection does not complete correction.

C:

Continuous records establish who controlled the evidence; the goal is evidence-handling correction for where chain of custody lost accountability. Future hardening is not current-state recovery.

D:

Legitimate movement must maintain both legal compliance and provenance; the other incident centers on whether cross-border handling is authorized, not this evidence-handling correction question about where chain of custody lost accountability.

Question 196

To prevent the next similar event, analysts review this case: A forensic examiner copies files using an ordinary desktop file manager and unintentionally changes metadata. Which preventive change targets the exact pathway that failed?

  1. Reacquire with a validated write blocker and record earlier alterations
  2. Use forensic write protection and operator training for media acquisitions
  3. Qualify imaging adapters and inspect error reporting during exercises
  4. Compare source metadata and acquisition logs for unintended writes

Explanation

Correct Answer

B:

Controlled tooling reduces accidental modifications; the control owner can test whether this reduces repeat conditions affecting whether the acquisition modified evidence.

Incorrect Answers

A:

A defensible process documents limitations rather than hiding them; the case needs custody-procedure prevention addressing whether the acquisition modified evidence; case recovery is not future-risk control.

C:

Validated tooling increases repeatability of forensic acquisition; the activity targets whether the acquisition is complete; custody-procedure prevention here concerns whether the acquisition modified evidence.

D:

Ordinary file operations can change access timestamps and other properties; the requirement concerns whether the acquisition modified evidence, so an investigation is not recurrence prevention.

Question 197

Before detailed examination, an evidence-preservation decision concerns: A responder plans to capture only the Documents folder from a server suspected of covert persistence. Which TWO actions establish relevant evidence and immediately protect the material from further disturbance? (Choose TWO.)

  1. Train teams to choose logical versus physical acquisition deliberately
  2. Identify relevant system partitions, startup entries and deleted-space needs
  3. Acquire a forensic image or targeted system artifacts that answer the scope question
  4. Verify the snapshot or exported disks and retain supporting metadata
  5. Preserve the source drive while a proportionate acquisition plan is approved

Explanation

Correct Answers

B:

Persistence may reside outside user files and require broader forensic scope; within the combined response for whether a logical copy covers the suspected artifacts, this supplies scene or evidence validation: the first responder needs evidence bearing on whether a logical copy covers the suspected artifacts with source and context recorded.

E:

Prematurely narrowing collection can permanently lose relevant artifacts; within the combined response for whether a logical copy covers the suspected artifacts, this supplies immediate evidence protection: the immediate evidence or scene safeguard follows from whether a logical copy covers the suspected artifacts; additional acquisition requires separate authorization.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Method selection should follow the evidentiary question; the goal is immediate evidence protection for whether a logical copy covers the suspected artifacts. Prevention cannot replace immediate action.

C:

Collection should cover the suspected behavior and legal authorization; the case needs immediate evidence protection addressing whether a logical copy covers the suspected artifacts; corrective follow-through follows initial protection.

D:

Integrity checks and configuration context make virtual evidence usable; this serves whether the snapshot is consistent and authenticated, whereas the requested result is immediate evidence protection involving whether a logical copy covers the suspected artifacts.

Question 198

During lessons learned, the security owner reviews this completed incident: Responders discover a server cabinet unlocked after a possible physical tampering event. Which repeatable safeguard best prevents this failure mode in the future?

  1. Record exact equipment identifiers and condition before removal
  2. Teach responders to inventory adjacent non-digital artifacts
  3. Photograph seals, rack positions, cabling and cabinet access controls
  4. Require sealed racks and auditable physical access procedures

Explanation

Correct Answer

D:

Physical control reduces tampering opportunities and improves traceability; the assurance measure is designed around which physical conditions must be documented, rather than hiding the reported activity.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Unique identifiers prevent mix-ups among similar devices; the case needs custody-procedure prevention addressing which physical conditions must be documented; case recovery is not future-risk control.

B:

Physical context can be relevant to cyber incident reconstruction; it is meant to address how associated physical context should be preserved, not custody-procedure prevention for which physical conditions must be documented.

C:

These details may show unauthorized physical interaction before equipment is moved; for which physical conditions must be documented, an investigation is not recurrence prevention; custody-procedure prevention remains necessary.

Question 199

After technical restoration, responders document the weakness exposed by: A sealed evidence bag is opened for analysis, then returned to storage without a new seal identifier. Which long-term control would reduce exposure to this specific pattern?

  1. Record examiner, purpose, condition and replacement seal number
  2. Use evidence check-in forms requiring seal changes and signatures
  3. Automate hash verification on every evidence repository migration
  4. Match entry logs against the original seal and examination schedule

Explanation

Correct Answer

B:

Complete custody metadata prevents unexplained openings; the control owner can test whether this reduces repeat conditions affecting whether seal integrity can be tracked after examination.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Re-sealing history allows later reviewers to understand every opening; for whether seal integrity can be tracked after examination, case recovery is not future-risk control; custody-procedure prevention remains necessary.

C:

Continuous integrity checks detect later bit-level changes; it is meant to address whether an archived copy retains byte integrity, not custody-procedure prevention for whether seal integrity can be tracked after examination.

D:

Broken seals require a clear documented reason and a new custody sequence; an investigation is not recurrence prevention in the decision about whether seal integrity can be tracked after examination.

Question 200

The first-response lead needs an authorized protection step for this case: A floor plan used for evidence collection omits a wireless access point behind a cabinet. What first-response measure minimizes evidence disturbance under the circumstances?

  1. Compare the diagram to a documented room walkthrough and equipment inventory
  2. Secure and photograph the newly identified access point before manipulation
  3. Pause evidence removal until all connected media and device identifiers are recorded
  4. Update the diagram with measured locations and identification numbers

Explanation

Correct Answer

B:

This preserves its position and visible cabling for investigation; this preserves handling integrity for whether the scene diagram accurately describes network context before detailed collection proceeds.

Incorrect Answers

A:

A missing device may explain connectivity and attack reachability; investigation alone does not control current conditions in the decision about whether the scene diagram accurately describes network context.

C:

Scene completeness should be established before separating components; that method could help with how an exhibit is uniquely identified; the immediate evidence protection decision here involves whether the scene diagram accurately describes network context.

D:

Corrected scene maps reduce confusion during later analysis; for whether the scene diagram accurately describes network context, corrective follow-through follows initial protection; immediate evidence protection remains necessary.

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