What is a live acquisition in digital forensics?

A live acquisition in digital forensics refers to the process of creating a copy of data while the device is powered on. This method is important because it allows forensic investigators to capture volatile data, such as information in the system memory (RAM), running processes, network connections, and other transient data that may not be available after the device is powered down. Live acquisition is particularly useful in situations where the state of the device may change or where critical information could be lost if the device is shut off.

In contrast, examining data that has been previously stored refers to static analysis, which involves working with data that is not currently active. Collecting data from an unpowered device typically involves making a physical image of the storage media, which does not capture any volatile data. Reviewing network traffic in real-time is related to network forensics rather than acquiring data from a particular device. Therefore, the emphasis on capturing live data while a device is still operational makes this method vital for a comprehensive forensic investigation.