Title: Mobile phone forensics - a systematic approach, tools, techniques and challenges

Authors: Manish Kumar

Addresses: Department of Master of Computer Applications, M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Bangalore – 54, India

Abstract: Collection and analysis of digital evidence from mobile phones plays vital role to solve many civil and criminal cases. This evidence is a potential source of information which helps the prosecutors win more conviction. Sometime it also helps to crack organised crime and terrorist activities. Digital forensics expert need specialised tools and techniques to extract the evidence from mobile phones for analysis. Extracting the evidence from mobile phones in forensically sound manner is never been an easy task, as the entire process must ensure the integrity of evidence and its admissibility in the court of law. Rapid advancement in technology and frequent release of latest make and models always poses new challenges for the investigator. There are various tools and techniques available for mobile forensics, which are classified based on its complexity and its physical characteristics. Forensics examiner need to assess the complexity of the case and select the tools accordingly. This paper discusses in-detail about the systematic approach, which can be used for mobile forensics. Each approach has its own advantages, disadvantages, cost and complexities which is highlighted in the paper along with the list of standard tools and their key features.

Keywords: mobile forensics; digital forensics; electronic evidence; non-destructive method; semi-destructive method; destructive method; Joint Test Action Group; JTAG; chip-off.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESDF.2021.111725

International Journal of Electronic Security and Digital Forensics, 2021 Vol.13 No.1, pp.64 - 87

Received: 22 Aug 2019
Accepted: 14 Jan 2020
Published online: 11 Dec 2020 *

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