Which tool is recognized as an open source software for collecting and preserving volatile data?

Dumpit is recognized as an open-source tool specifically designed for collecting and preserving volatile data, such as data stored in RAM. It enables forensic investigators to capture memory images which can be critical for analysis, especially during investigations involving malware, rootkits, or running processes. By focusing on data that is temporarily stored in memory, Dumpit ensures that these ephemeral details are not lost when a system is powered down or when it is restarted.

Other tools listed, while valuable for various aspects of data acquisition and analysis, do not specialize in the collection of volatile data in the same way. For instance, Helix Pro is a comprehensive forensic suite that may include capabilities for volatile data collection but is not solely recognized for this purpose. Wireshark is primarily a packet analysis tool used for network traffic examination rather than memory acquisition. FTK Imager is a powerful tool for imaging and forensic analysis of disk drives, and while it does offer some functionalities for memory acquisition, it is not an open-source software. Therefore, Dumpit stands out as the correct choice for the specific task of capturing volatile data.