What function does a write-blocker serve in digital forensics?

A write-blocker is a crucial tool in digital forensics that serves the primary function of preventing any writing to a storage device or evidence drive. This is essential because, during an investigation, maintaining the integrity of the evidence is paramount. If any data were to be altered or overwritten during the examination process, it could compromise the validity of the evidence and potentially affect legal proceedings.

By using a write-blocker, forensic investigators can read data from the drive and create exact images for analysis without the risk of modifying the original data. Thus, the write-blocker ensures that the original evidence remains unaltered, providing a reliable foundation for forensic analysis and helping maintain the chain of custody. This function is critical as it upholds the principles of digital forensics by allowing investigators to operate on the evidence without jeopardizing its authenticity or integrity.