What is the minimum number of bit-stream copies recommended for a suspect drive?

• A. 3
• B. 1
• C. 2
• D. 4

Answer: (C)

Preserving evidence integrity and enabling verifiability through duplication and hash verification is the idea behind imaging suspect drives. The minimum is to create two bit-stream copies. One copy is used for actual analysis, while the second serves as an independent verification and backup to guard against errors, tampering, or corruption in a single copy. After imaging, generate cryptographic hashes (such as SHA-256) for both images and compare them; identical hashes confirm that the copies are exact bit-for-bit reflections of the original. Always image with a write blocker to keep the original unaltered, and store the copies separately to reduce the risk of loss or compromise. While sometimes a third copy is created for extra redundancy or court-specific needs, two copies satisfy the basic requirement for reliable, verifiable forensic imaging.