Which term describes the act of altering digital evidence?

The term that accurately describes the act of altering digital evidence is tampering. Tampering refers to any intentional modification, manipulation, or alteration of digital data or evidence, which jeopardizes its integrity and authenticity. In forensic investigations, the preservation of digital evidence is crucial, and tampering undermines the reliability of the evidence obtained.

In contrast, imaging refers to the process of creating a bit-for-bit copy of digital media, ensuring that the original data remains unaltered. Preserving involves maintaining the integrity of the evidence without any modification. Acquisition is the act of gathering digital evidence, but it does not imply any alteration. Thus, tampering specifically highlights the unwanted and unethical alteration of evidence, making it the correct answer.