When we talk about cellular forensics, many people automatically think that if we conduct computer forensics, we must also be able to carry out cellular forensics. In fairness, for both cases you are dealing with data and preserving and searching it. That is where the similarity ends. While it is true that someone already versed in computer forensics is better poised to enter the realm of cellular forensics, this does not automatically make them an expert.
Another major concern is those companies or individuals advertising certifications, such as “Certified Cellular Examiner”. It must be understood that these are typically certifications being issued by individuals, and are not a peer supported certification, nor do they hold any credibility for mainstream cellular forensics examinars. In fact, the training typically has very little or nothing to do with actual cellular forensics. The focus of any course is usually on spyware. Taking an arbitrary two or three day course by an unaccredited person or organization certainly does not qualify someone to perform forensics of any kind, no matter what kind of paper they hand out at the end. Always demand to see qualifications, and certainly verify that they have been accredited. Remember, you will never know what was missed if an unqualified person conducts your examination.
The biggest issue with cellular devices is that no two devices are the same. There are literally thousands of different cellular devices, and their data structure, not to mention method of accessing the data forensically can change not just from brand to brand, but from model to model. There are literally thousands of different cellular devices, and their data structure, not to mention their method of accessing the data forensically, can change not just from brand to brand, but from model to model. Our lab has hundreds of cables just to be able to connect to any device that we may encounter. We can even perform forensics on automobile GPS devices
We have been conducting cellular and GPS device forensics for many years now, and maintain a lab with the most comprehensive set of hardware tools currently available in the marketplace.
To read more about the intricacies of cellular forensics and what is possible, please read our article located HERE.