Which type of tool can be used to compare results and verify a new tool by viewing data in its raw format?

• A. Forensic toolkit
• B. Hex editor
• C. Packet sniffer
• D. Disk editor

Answer: (D)

Viewing data in its raw form means looking at the exact bytes stored on the storage medium, so you can compare what a tool reports with what is actually written at the byte level. A disk editor is designed for this purpose because it opens a disk or disk image and presents data sector by sector in its native, unparsed form. You can navigate to specific sectors, inspect the raw bytes, and see how data is laid out, including headers, metadata, and any padding. This direct access lets you verify that a new tool is reading or interpreting the disk exactly as it exists, by cross-checking the byte-for-byte content.

While a hex editor also shows raw bytes, it typically works on individual files or memory buffers rather than the complete disk layout and sector structure, which can limit its usefulness for confirming disk-wide results. A forensic toolkit is broad and may include parsing and reporting features, but it doesn’t inherently provide the same focused, low-level view of a disk’s raw content. A packet sniffer captures network traffic, not disk data, so it isn’t relevant for this kind of verification. In this context, the disk editor is the best tool for inspecting raw data to verify a new tool’s output.