Mobile Digital Forensics - Research Paper Example

Mobile Digital Forensics The 21st century has been described as the information age, where by world systems are powered by the advancements in information and technology. This age has seen many people rely on mobile phones for their communications and other business activities. Additionally, besides mobile phones, other related devices have also been devosed to add value to human life and increase efficiency in their communication and other social and economic functions. However, in as much as these technologies have brught many advantages in human life, they have also been cited as the potential causes of the many problems that continue to affect the quality of life. For instance, a section of unethical people have relied on mobile technology, which includes mobile phones and other personal digital assistants to fraud people and other businesspersons milliosn of money (Marshall, 2008). For this reason, a different form of intervention to curb this rising incident has resulted in the development of mobile forensics, a field that involves recover of different form of digital evidence over fraud and other related unethical incidents. This paper examines the concept of mobile digital forensics and the way it is helping to curb fraud incidents in mobile devices and technology. It looks at sme of the challenges in the implementation of the technology as well as some of the potential solutions to these challenges. Table of Contents Topic Page No. 1.0 Introduction 4 2.0 Mobile Digital Forensics 4 3.0 Associated Challenges in Digital Forensics 5 3.1 Manufacturers and Operating Systems 5 3.2 Connection issues 6 4.0 Methodology and Training 6 5.0 Expenses and Resources 8 6.0 Potential Solutions to challenges in Mobile Digital Forensics 8 7.0 References 10 Introduction Digital forensics is a field that deals with retraction of different forms of evidence in digital format or information relating to mobile devices, which often takes place under sound challenges forensically. Mobile digital forensic is simply a branch of the digital forensics that deals specifically with the process of getting digital evidence from mobile technologies using sound forensic conditions (Marshall, 2008). It is important to understand that the term “mobile” does not only refer to mobile phones alone, it comprises of other forms of digital devices like PDAs, GPS devices and even tablet computers. The habit of using phones in perpetuating crime and other related incidents was broadly recognized for many years; however, the particular study about how the process is done and how it can be followed up by security authorities is a new development (Marshall, 2008). It is important to note that the proliferation of several mobile phones and related consumer electronics and technologies prompted the need for forensic study and examination of these devices in order to enhance their security and use (Sammons, 2012). Mobile technologies have bee designed in such a way that they can store different kinds of information relating to their particular users (Doherty, 2013). For instance, they can store photos, contacts, notes as well as they can display calendars and diaries to their users, additionally, they can be used to send multimedia messages (MMS) and short message services (SMS). Smartphone mobile devices can contain emails, video, location information, information about web browsing as well as messaging devices on social media. Mobile Digital Forensics The digital forensic world is facing a persistent threat of staying a abreast of the latest developments in technology that come along with new ways of investigation and application (Doherty, 2013). It is a common observation that modern human society has many mobile devices that are used by people in their different activities in life. Mobile technologies are currently being widely used to handle personal, professional and corporate issues that can keep on changing with different peoples’s lifestyles and patterns of life. The mobile technologies used by people differ with respect to their design and the particular needs they address. These devices are in a constant evolution that is facilitated by numerous changes in information and technology (Marshall, 2008). Security authorities are often faced with various questions whenever they encounter issues involving the loss of mobile technologies are criminal activities that have used these technologies. Mobile devise forensics describes that science and technology that is employed in the process of retrieving digital evidence in mobile technologies. The process of mobile digital forensics special forensic sound conditions that are administered under specially accepted methods (Doherty, 2013). It is important to note that this new field of forensics is highly evolving with respect to changing technologies that keep bringing new ways of crime and criminal related activities. In this case, security systems have to prepare adequately to handle the rising challenges associated with these developments (Sammons, 2012). Associated Challenges in Digital Forensics Manufacturers and operating systems It is a general observation in the mobile technologies industry that three operating systems have been common in desktop systems. This include the MS Windows, Linux OS, as well as OS X, which is a product of Apple Inc., when it comes to mobile digital technologies, the case is very different (Hoog & Strzempka, 2011). Each year, new kinds of operating systems in these technologies are being invented. This development means that forensic experts have to keep learning and unlearning some of the digital forensic processes used in this process. At the moment, the operating systems existing in the market share the following operating systems; Android OS at 52.5%, the Apple iOs and Symbian OS are tied at 16.9%, while blackberry and Microsoft have 11% and 8.7% respectively (Hoog & Strzempka, 2011). Connection Issues When connecting a mobile phone device, a forensic expert has to choose the best model from a big list that has thousands of technologies. Currently, the USB connection is the most reliable when it comes to digital forensics (Doherty, 2013). However, the drawback with this is that most of the digital technologies operate effectively on the Windows OS, this becomes a challenge especially that some of the digital technologies are not designed in the windows OS technology. In this case, the search for the right device to handle this issues becomes the biggest challenge especially forensic experts. The option of visiting the particular site by the manufacturer for further information is not the best alternative especially because the device may have been removed due to advancement in technology (Marshall, 2008). This is what poses the greatest challenge in digital forensics and assessment. Generally, the biggest underlying challenge in digital forensic investigation is the rapid growth in technology, which calls for continuous learning and understanding of the mobile digital technologies. Methodology and Training Security has risen to become a chief cause of concern in many countries; this follows the fact that criminal activities are changing and evolving fast in tandem with changes in information and technology (Sammons, 2012). Security agencies are expected to keep learning about new ways of handling and investigating criminal activities, including the technologies being used in this process. It is important to note that the information contained in digital technologies, especially in smartphones has been changing rapidly. This means that in the emerging market of smartphones, it is no longer necessary to document the phone book, recent calls and messages exchanged when making digital forensic analysis. The data stored in many of the applications on these digital technologies have a wealth of information that can easily be changed and distributed and retrieved by digital forensic assessments. Overall, the process followed in doing digital forensic analysis follows the following stages as shown. Digital Forensic Process (Ayers, Dankar & Mislan, 2009) Expenses and resources The particular expenses and tools to be used in undertaking digital forensics are often determined by that many factors like the purpose of examination, kinds of technologies used as well as any other existing storage abilities externally. The matrix below provides a list of some of the possible tools often used in the process of digital forensic analysis. cellular tools in digital forensics (Ayers, Dankar & Mislan, 2009) Currently, the technology market lacks a signle tool that can be used in retrieving information from digital technologies and related devices. Conversely, the mobile market has different technologies that rely on manual ways of extracting and documenting useful information (Doherty, 2013). For this reason, digital forensic experts faces difficulties in deciding on the best and most reliable tool for extracting this crucial information in the face of changing technologies. Potential solutions to challenges in mobile digital forensics It is important to understand that one of the main solution to the challenges being faced in undertaking digital forensic by experts is the need for constant learning. It is hard to refute the fact that technology continues to change and influence human practices and other important systems. One of the most reliable solution that has been though to solve most of these challenges is the use cloud computing. In using cloud computing, it is important to note that it is efficient and very optimal in the utilization of various resources for its application (Sammons, 2012). The pay-as-you-go model, as used in the process requires a proper and reliable elasticity of some of these resources. Cloud computing is instrumental in the provision of a reliable self-serve model that has the capacity to scale the resources up or down in response to the needs of the forensic experts. It is important to note that the resource mobility and their elasticity including the large amount of information that flows in the cloud poses is critical in undertaking digital forensics. In this case, forensics experts are expected to make an analysis of some of the particular needs in the forensic process and device ways of solving them out using this technology. References Ayers, R., Dankar, A. & Mislan, R. (2009). Hashing Techniques for Mobile Device Forensics. Small Scale Digital Device Forensics Journal, 3(1): 1-6. Doherty, E. (2013). Digital forensics for handheld devices. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. Hoog, A., & Strzempka, K. (2011). IPhone and iOS forensics investigation, analysis, and mobile security for Apple iPhone, iPad, and iOS devices. Waltham, MA: Syngress. Marshall, A. (2008). Digital forensics: Digital evidence in criminal investigation. Chichester, UK: Wiley-Blackwell. Sammons, J. (2012). The basics of digital forensics the primer for getting started in digital forensics. Waltham, MA: Syngress. Read More