Forensics Journal - Stevenson University 2010

FORENSICS JOURNAL Issues with Cell Phone Forensics Michael Robinson ABSTRACT CELL PHONES: WILDLY POPULAR AND CONSTANTLY CHANGING The analysis of mobile phones is a relatively new discipline within digital forensics that focuses on recovering and analyzing data within cell phones. There are several differences between this field and classical computer forensics that pose obstacles to examiners in this new discipline. In order to recover reliable forensic evidence from cell phones, examiners must take into consideration these differences. The astounding growth in use and rapidly changing cell phone technology, issues with the procedures associated with acquisition of live cell phones and the reliance on canned reports, are significant issues to be overcome. Examiners will need to continue their training in this new field and adapt their standard procedures if they hope to remain successful in analyzing cell phones. There are many different models of computers in use today. Yet, even with a high number of competing manufacturers and vendors, the number of file systems and operating systems being used on computers is relatively small. Microsoft Windows still dominates the desktop computing environment, with approximately 85-97%3 of the market (Steel, 2006). The cell phone industry does not operate the same way. While cellular networks and communication signals are standardized among a few technologies; e.g., Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), and Integrated Digital Enhanced Networks (iDEN), there are many different cell phones being used. There are thousands of different models of cell phones on the market (Jansen and Ayers, 2007). Cell phone manufacturers are constantly updating existing devices, releasing new models, and providing upgrades. Analysis of the various phones becomes complex due to the sheer size of the market. An examiner may never know what type of phone he/she may encounter. It is becoming increasingly common for cell phones to be associated with illegal activities, such as drug trafficking, video recording gang hazing activities, sexting1 between minors, driving a car while texting on a

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