A list of cell forensic tools for downloading data from cell telephones seized by investigators. Free tools are the Blackberry Device Manager and BitPim. Hardware for purchase are the Cellebrite UFED, Secure View, and Susteen / Datapilot XRY.
Last week, we looked at cell forensic extraction tools and why they are even important for local law enforement.. A serious opportunity to finalize investigations is presented if you are collecting mobile forensics from your targets.
What was once a extremely tricky forensic chore has become simpler with the growth of automated mobile phone analysis aquisition devices. We will suggest some of these mobile forensic download devices - some that cost, but also many that are free.
If you feel like to do something that is wearisome and time consuming, try the manual aquisition approach to mobile forensic data. Instruction on the subject is difficult to come by. In addition, the amount of customized hardware and tools required present challenges for even the most veteran professional technicians.
Over in the UK, crime analysts are disassembling the telephones and pulling information directly off of the information boards themselves; so, we know the physical approach can work. But I would suggest that in light of the rapidly advancing extraction tools available, physical analysis is no longer yields the optimal time to outcome ratio.
Automated Extraction Tools (free)
There are sites on the internet that offer free tools for a investigator to employ to carry out mobile forensics. Often times, the tools only work with a limited number of mobile telephones; but they can still be helpful. One tool is Bitpim. BitPim is a program that permits you to view and manipulate data on many CDMA phones from LG, Samsung, Sanyo and other manufacturers.
Over at Blackberry.com, there is another free mobile device forensics tool that basically provides access to the files on Blackberry smartphones.The user can download the Blackberry Device Manager and back-up any Blackberry device. The back-up file is in a proprietary format (IPD) and downloads some very useful forensic information including call records, SMS, emails (including all content) and calendar events. However, the IPD format alone is not viewable. To actually make use of the data, you must have another tool that costs $19.95 called the ABC Amber Blackberry Converter.
Automated Extraction Tools (cost)
- One of the most commonly used tools is the Cellebrite UFED (Universal Forensic Extraction Device). The UFED automatically separates and downloads data from over 2,000 different cell phones. , including CDMA telephones (like the ones that run on Verizon and Sprint) and GSM phones (AT&T & most worldwide carriers). That is 95% of all phones in existence. Their new UFED Physical Pro model also permits investigators to access deleted content.
- Another significant tool widely used is the Micro Systemation’s XRY/XACT. The XRY / XACT toolset has support for nearing 1000 devices as well as the new Android. It is quickly becoming a favorite amoung crime analysts and analysts.
- Susteen / Data Pilot's Secure View is a unique hand-held computer that permits the customer to both extract forensic data and run basic examination
But in the next article on cell forensic analysis software, we will move beyond aquisition.There is a cutting-edge investigation software system called THREADS that imports and analysizes the phone books, call detail records, text messages, emails, and more cell forensics quicly and easily.
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