Digital Forensics: First Responder and Digital Evidence Handling

FACT Forensic Aptitude Common Test drill on the first-responder role and digital evidence handling, covering the on-scene priority list at a powered-on computer, the live-response versus pull-the-plug decision, the toolkit a responder carries (Faraday bag, anti-static bag, write blocker, imaging device, evidence labels, chain-of-custody form), search and seizure powers under BNSS 2023 Section 94 and IT Act 2000 Section 80, the admissibility framework under Section 65B IEA 1872 and Section 63 BSA 2023, RFC 3227 order of volatility, NIST SP 800-88 sanitization categories, forensic imaging and hashing with SHA-256, recovery of deleted, hidden, and altered files, handling of encrypted volumes under IT Act Section 69, and the Anvar P.V. and Arjun Panditrao Supreme Court line on Section 65B certification.

For FACT aspirants, NFSU MSc digital forensics entrants, CHFI candidates, and police officers preparing for cybercrime investigator certification. Questions are calibrated at the easy band for first-pass concept refresh and exam vocabulary, with single-fact recall on definitions, statutory sections, RFC 3227 ordering, hash function status, and the chain-of-custody framework anchored in Indian procedural law.

Topics covered:

• First responder priority, live response, and pull-the-plug decision
• Toolkit: Faraday bag, anti-static bag, write blocker, imaging device
• BNSS 2023 Section 94, IT Act 2000 Sections 69 and 80
• Section 65B IEA 1872 and Section 63 BSA 2023 certificate, Anvar and Arjun Panditrao
• Volatile vs non-volatile evidence and RFC 3227 order of volatility
• NIST SP 800-88 sanitization, forensic imaging formats, write blockers, hashing
• Memory acquisition (DumpIt, FTK Imager, LiME) and chain of custody
• Recovery of deleted, hidden, altered files, encrypted volumes, formatted drives

Useful for revision and self-testing before the FACT digital forensics paper.

Allow 30 minutes.