Mobile forensics is a type of digital forensics that involves data retrieval from a mobile device, smartwatches, GPS devices, camera, or drone. With more than 400 million mobile-cellular subscriptions in the US, mobile forensics is a crucial part of modern investigation.
The kind of information these devices have helps forensic experts create a timeline of events. This timeline can provide them with a full picture of a conversation, the motive of a crime, and the location where it occurred.
Since mobile forensics is a complicated discipline, experts must have training in the best practices and investigation procedures. Here’s how they extract data from phones.
Device Seizure
The first step is identifying whether the digital evidence is relevant to the case. Since the device may span multiple devices, cloud accounts, servers, and systems, the data contained can be synced.
The seized mobile device is isolated from the network to avert incoming data from overwriting older data. If the device is locked, the PIN codes are protected by the 5th amendment, but fingerprints are not.
Data Acquisition
Mobile data is of three types – system logs, external memory, and internal memory. Internal memory is stored on the phone, whereas external memory is stored on memory sticks or SD cards. System logs usually come from wireless networks and the telecom provider.
Data in a smartphone can include social network data, text messages, social network data, emails, personal notes, browsing history, and image data. Investigators often use third-party tools that have both a software and hardware component.
Data Analysis
Following data acquisition, mobile forensics experts need to analyze it. Based on the type of case, they may only be interested in a certain category of data. However, in complicated cases, many different categories of data can be of interest, such as contacts, pictures, chats, and more. As a result, the process may be more time-consuming, requiring multiple technical solutions.
If requested by the client, the experts will prepare a report on the data contained on the mobile device. Some examiners may export the data from the device for counsel’s review. The export is formatted so that it can be made more accessible.
Partner With Mobile Forensics Experts
If you’re a legal agency based in Florida and looking for court-certified forensic services, then consider us at Eclipse Forensics. We are a team of forensic experts specializing in criminal evidence authentication, including mobile forensics, audio and video authentication, etc.
For more information, get in touch with us.