Over 90% of the legal matters in court systems today will have an electronically stored information (ESI) component requiring digital forensics. Cellphones and digital forensics are closely interconnected fields that deal with the investigation and analysis of electronic devices, particularly cellphones, to extract and analyze digital evidence. Cellphones often contain a wealth of digital evidence, including call logs, text messages, emails, browsing history, social media activity, location information, and more. This evidence can be crucial in criminal investigations, civil litigation, and intelligence gathering.
The data available for extraction on cellphones will generally fall into one of three categories. The internal memory is data that is locally stored on the phone. External memory would include SD cards, the Cloud, and thumb drives. System logs contain information recorded by the operating system and apps on the device. These logs are only stored temporarily.
During complex litigation it will be important to know these 5 facts concerning cellphones and extracting data from these memory sources:
Tools and Techniques: Forensic investigators utilize specialized tools and techniques to extract and analyze cellphone data. These tools may include forensic software, hardware, and specialized cables or adapters provided by services such as Cellebrite and Harvester. Techniques can involve logical extractions (accessing files through the device's operating system) or physical extractions (directly accessing the device's memory chips).
Deleted Data and Text Messages: Even if data is deleted from a cellphone, it can often be recovered through forensic techniques. Deleted data may still reside in the device's storage until it is overwritten by new data. Recovering deleted texts can be much more challenging to accomplish. Cellphones do not store deleted text messages and most phone companies only store texts for a few hours to a few days. Cellphone backups stored in the Cloud have become a valuable resource in recovering deleted data and text messages.
Encryption and Passcodes: The increasing use of encryption and passcodes on cellphones presents challenges for digital forensics. Strong encryption methods can make it difficult or impossible to access certain data without the correct passcode or encryption key.
Cloud-Based Data: Cellphones are often connected to cloud services, such as iCloud or Google Drive, where data is synchronized and backed up. Digital forensics can involve obtaining data from these cloud services, either through legal processes or by extracting information directly from the device with the appropriate passwords.
Metadata: Cellphone data contains valuable metadata or key facts about an individual data file, such as timestamps, geolocation information, download logs, and device identifiers. This metadata can help provide a greater context of the evidence by establishing timelines, locations, and associations between different pieces of evidence.
It is important to note that digital forensics is a complex and specialized field. Cellphone technology is continuously evolving, presenting new challenges for legal professionals. New operating systems, security features, and communication protocols require forensic experts to stay up to date with the latest tools, techniques, and vulnerabilities. When dealing with cellphone evidence, it is recommended to consult trained professionals, such as Legal Eagle.
For more information of Legal Eagle's digital forensics capabilities, please contact us at 864-467-1373 or info@legaleagleinc.com.