If you are still analyzing pay phones, then you are existing in ancient history. As we enter the next ten years of the twentieth century, a lot of folks are using cell phones - including the individuals of interest that we investigate.
As cell telephones have evolved, it does not make a great deal of sense anymore to just call the devices "telephones.". In fact, the title "mini computer" would be a more appropriate title for these powerful little communication smartphones. Devices like the blackberry and iphone are especially influential sources of investigative evidence.
Common conviction among most - in particular smaller - law enforcement agencies is that investigating cell forensics is more scientific than they have the time or the people to handle. But this is simply not the situation. Take a look abroad: the UK, and other nearby Eurpean nations, are far more advanced that the United States when it comes to squeezing forensics information out of mobile telephones. This advancement was not that demanding; it really only took a willingness to recognize that cell forensics are valuable for cases. We will discuss importance of mobile forensics in this article. In another article, we discuss cell forensics extraction tools.
Though it may seem to be a trivial question if you have any experience with mobile device forensics, no double several police department cops might want a definition for mobile forensics. Here is a good definition:
The removal and analysis of data from mobile phones seized by analysts.
To aquire these mobile telephones from suspects, they are usually captured during an arrest or when a search warrent is exercised. The way to legally obtain cell telephones for cases is not the point of this editorial - we have to assume that you are somewhat familiar with the essentials of criminal justice. Consult your defense attorney to make sure that you obtain the telephones appropriately. Remember that the method from start to finish needs to be documented for court.
Mobile forensic data includes:
- Emails ( in the case of smartphones)
- Address books
- Pictures (occationallly together with geo-data!)
-Text messages
-Call Detail Records (aka numbers called and numbers calling)
The value of cell forensics is quite obvious.
They can easily produce the next lead of your analysis, but they also give valuable perspective for your persons of interest. Who is called most often by your suspect? Who is receiving his emails? What individuals are a element of his core group of co-conspirators?
Simply getting data off of a telephone, however, is not enough. You need a way to examine the data. It is not uncommon for forensic detectives to rave about the number of files they are able to pull off a particilar phone. However, the only point of extracting data from a phone is to generate leads and the resulting evidence with ANALYSIS.
In another article later in this series, we will hit on some cell forensics investigation software that turns the information from the extraction devices (like the Cellebrite, Secureview, or XRY) and actually turns it into useful intelligence automatically.
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