Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI) Practice Exam 2026 – The Complete All-in-One Guide to Exam Mastery!

Raw data acquisition refers to the process of capturing the exact bitstream from a storage device, such as a hard drive, without any alterations. This method results in the creation of simple sequential flat files, which are essentially exact representations of the original data on the drive. These files include every bit of information, maintaining the original structure and sequence of the data, making them suitable for forensic analysis.

The simplicity of sequential flat files means they can be easily written and read, facilitating the preservation of unaltered data for further examination. This format does not introduce any complexities such as segmentation or compression, which could potentially complicate the forensic process or introduce data integrity concerns.

In contrast, segmented files, compressed image files, and segmented image files involve additional processing that can change how the data is stored or accessed. Forensic analysts prefer raw data acquisition for its integrity and reliability, making simple sequential flat files the ideal outcome from a suspect drive in this context.