You have been asked to perform a live capture of evidence contained in a desktop PC. Which of the following is the best order of analysis?

When conducting a live capture of evidence from a desktop PC, the order of analysis is crucial to ensure that volatile data is preserved before it's lost. The most critical component to analyze first is RAM (Random Access Memory). This is because RAM contains volatile data that only exists while the computer is powered on and can be lost with a simple restart or shutdown. Critical information such as active processes, open files, and network connections are found in RAM, making it vital to capture this data as soon as possible.

Following the capture of RAM, the next step is to analyze the HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The HDD holds persistent data, including files, system logs, and application data. Once the volatile data in RAM has been secured, the focus can then shift to the more static data on the HDD, which provides ongoing evidence even after power loss.

Lastly, the backup tape can be analyzed. Backup tapes are typically used for long-term storage of data and may contain prior versions of files or data that are no longer present on the current system. Since it is less urgent than securing RAM and HDD data, capturing backup tape information should be the final step in this sequence.

This order—starting with RAM, then HDD, and finally backup tape—ensures that