In forensic analysis, what is the primary goal of dynamic analysis?

Dynamic analysis in forensic analysis focuses on observing the behavior of software while it is actively running. This methodology is essential for understanding how a program interacts with the system, which includes monitoring changes to the operating system, file system modifications, network activity, and other real-time actions that occur as the software executes.

The primary goal of this analysis technique is to gain insights into potentially malicious actions that a program may perform, which static analysis alone cannot reveal. For instance, during dynamic analysis, investigators can identify how malware spreads, the locations it targets, and the types of data it accesses or exfiltrates while in operational mode.

In contrast, the other choices focus on different aspects of data handling and analysis. Examining static files pertains to analyzing files without executing them, while recovering deleted files deals with retrieving data that has been removed from the system but may still be recoverable. Compressing data for storage refers to reducing data size for efficient storage without focusing on behavior or analysis, making it unrelated to the dynamic examination of software.