According to the CHFI v11 Mobile Device Forensics objectives, physical acquisition of an Android device aims to obtain a bit-by-bit image of the device’s storage , allowing investigators to recover deleted files, unallocated space, and hidden artifacts. When a device is rooted , investigators can leverage low-level Linux utilities such as the dd command to perform this acquisition.
The correct forensic procedure involves first connecting the Android device to the forensic workstation , typically via USB using ADB. The investigator must then obtain a root shell , as root privileges are mandatory to access raw block devices (for example, /dev/block/mmcblk0). Next, the investigator must identify the correct source (the physical partition or block device) and define the destination , which may be an external storage location or a streamed image file captured on the forensic workstation. Finally, the dd command is executed with precise input (if=) and output (of=) parameters to create a forensic image.
CHFI v11 stresses that this process must be conducted carefully to avoid data alteration and to maintain evidentiary integrity. The other options are incorrect because Bluetooth is not used for forensic imaging, custom hardware is not required for dd-based acquisition, and vague “remote execution” does not reflect the structured steps mandated by CHFI methodology.
Therefore, the CHFI v11–verified and forensically sound procedure is to connect the device, acquire the root shell, identify the source and destination, and execute dd , making Option D the correct answer.
