Mark, a forensic investigator, is examining a suspicious executable file for signs of malicious activity.

Option A. BinText is the correct answer because the task is specifically to extract embedded strings from an executable file. In malware analysis, strings such as URLs, domain names, file paths, mutex names, registry keys, command fragments, or suspicious messages can provide valuable clues about the malware’s functionality without requiring immediate execution. A string-extraction tool is therefore one of the most useful early triage methods.

BinText is designed for exactly this purpose. It scans binaries and extracts readable strings that may indicate malicious intent or reveal indicators of compromise. This makes it far more suitable than the other options for the specific requirement stated in the question.

PE Explorer is more focused on inspecting PE file structure and metadata. HashMyFiles generates hashes for integrity and identification, not embedded-string extraction. Dependency Walker helps analyze imported libraries and dependencies, which can also be useful, but it does not directly serve the same role as a strings tool. Therefore, for a CHFI-style first-pass review of a suspicious executable to uncover embedded text artifacts, BinText is the most appropriate choice.