A Platform Independent Forensic Process Model for Smartphones

A properly conducted forensic examination is one of the most fundamental aspects of a digital investigation. Examiners are obligated to obtain the skills necessary to use forensic tools and methodologies and rely on sound judgment when analyzing a digital device. Anytime during this process, the quality of the methods, skills, and expertise of the examiner may be challenged, thus, placing the forensic value of the evidence collected during the process in jeopardy. In order to combat the potential challenges posed as a result of the forensic examination process, the digital forensics community must ensure that suitable protocols are used throughout the analysis process. Currently, there is no standard methodology forensic examiners use to analyze a small scale digital device. This research addresses these issues by introducing the concept of an extendable forensic process model applicable to smartphones regardless of platform. This book provides a description of the forensic process, the models currently used, the developed model, and experiments to show its usefulness.