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A30-327 · Question #12

During the execution of a search warrant, you image a suspect drive using FTK Imager and store the Raw (dd) image files on a portable drive. Later, these files are transferred to a server for…

The correct answer is D. use FTK imager to create a verification hash and manually compare that value to the valuestored in the Summary file. Option D is correct because Raw (dd) images do not embed hash values internally - the hash generated during imaging is saved separately in a plain-text Summary file. To verify integrity after the server transfer, you must use FTK Imager to recalculate a hash of the current…

Data Acquisition and Preservation

Question

During the execution of a search warrant, you image a suspect drive using FTK Imager and store the Raw (dd) image files on a portable drive. Later, these files are transferred to a server for storage. How do you verify that the information stored on the server is unaltered?

Options

  • Aopen and view the Summary file
  • Bload the image into FTK and it automatically performs file verification
  • Cin FTK Imager, use the Verify Drive/Image function to automatically compare a calculatedhash with a stored hash
  • Duse FTK imager to create a verification hash and manually compare that value to the valuestored in the Summary file

How the community answered

(60 responses)
  • A
    7% (4)
  • B
    3% (2)
  • C
    12% (7)
  • D
    78% (47)

Explanation

Option D is correct because Raw (dd) images do not embed hash values internally - the hash generated during imaging is saved separately in a plain-text Summary file. To verify integrity after the server transfer, you must use FTK Imager to recalculate a hash of the current image, then manually compare that value against the original hash recorded in the Summary file; a match confirms the data is unaltered.

Why the distractors fail:

  • A is wrong because simply opening the Summary file only shows you the original hash - it does nothing to verify the current state of the image on the server.
  • B is wrong because loading an image into FTK (the full forensic suite) does not automatically trigger hash verification; that is not a built-in on-load behavior.
  • C is the trickiest distractor - the "Verify Drive/Image" automatic comparison works for E01/EnCase format images, which embed the hash internally. Raw/dd images store hashes externally, so a fully automatic comparison is not possible; the manual step is required.

Memory tip: Think of it this way - dd = dumb container (no embedded hash), so you must do the comparison yourself using the Summary file. E01 is the "smart" format that carries the hash inside, enabling automatic verification.

Topics

#hash verification#forensic imaging#image integrity#FTK Imager

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