When is it acceptable to navigate through a live system?

Navigating through a live system can be acceptable in a forensic investigation under specific circumstances, as it allows investigators to gather pertinent information that may not be available through traditional means, such as examining a powered-off system or analyzing static images.

Observing the shutdown process can provide insights into system behavior, running processes, and any potential anomalies that occur during a shutdown, making it a valuable part of incident response or investigation.

Documenting opened files in a live system can yield important evidence regarding user activity, data access patterns, and other critical forensic details that help establish a timeline of events. These factors can be essential in understanding what the user was doing and when, which is especially relevant in cases of suspected unauthorized access or data exfiltration.

Detecting mounted encryption involves examining whether any drives are encrypted and accessible at the time of the investigation. This information is crucial for assessing what data is protected and may provide insights into potential risks or security breaches.

Hence, all of these activities are legitimate and important for a forensic examination of a live system, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the situation at hand. Consequently, navigating through a live system is warranted in these contexts, aligning with forensic best practices.