What is the process of obtaining and/or extracting digital evidence from a digital device or media with specialized forensic tools?

The process of obtaining and/or extracting digital evidence from a digital device or media using specialized forensic tools is referred to as acquisition. This process is fundamental in digital forensics as it involves securely capturing data in its original form to ensure the integrity and authenticity of the evidence. Acquisition can include creating bit-by-bit copies of storage media or capturing volatile data from a device's memory.

Specialized forensic tools are designed to handle the unique challenges presented by digital media, such as removing potential obstacles like encryption or protecting against data alteration during the extraction process. This step is crucial because any modification to the evidence could compromise its validity in legal scenarios.

While authentication pertains to verifying the integrity and originality of the evidence, copying refers to creating duplicates of files without the specificity required in forensic contexts. Alteration, on the other hand, indicates changes made to the data, which is contrary to the principles of digital evidence handling. Thus, acquisition is the most accurate term to describe the thorough and meticulous approach taken in digital forensics when extracting evidence from devices.