Smartphone sensor data as digital evidence

The proliferation of smartphones introduces new opportunities in digital forensics. One of the reasons is that smartphones are usually equipped with sensors (e.g. accelerometer, proximity sensor, etc.), hardware which can be used to infer the user's context. This context may be useful in a digi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Computers & security 2013-10, Vol.38, p.51-75
Main Authors: Mylonas, Alexios, Meletiadis, Vasilis, Mitrou, Lilian, Gritzalis, Dimitris
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Android
Applied sciences
Collection
Computer programs
Computer science
control theory
systems
Devices
Digital
Digital forensics
Ethics
Exact sciences and technology
Forensic engineering
Information gathering
Investigation models
Memory and file management (including protection and security)
Memory organisation. Data processing
Sensor
Sensor data
Sensors
Smartphones
Software
Studies
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Summary:The proliferation of smartphones introduces new opportunities in digital forensics. One of the reasons is that smartphones are usually equipped with sensors (e.g. accelerometer, proximity sensor, etc.), hardware which can be used to infer the user's context. This context may be useful in a digital investigation, as it can aid in the rejection or acceptance of an alibi, or even reveal a suspect's actions or activities. Nonetheless, sensor data are volatile, thus are not available in post-mortem analysis. Thus, the only way to timely acquire them, in case such a need arises during a digital investigation, is by software that collects them when they are generated by the suspect's actions. In this paper we examine the feasibility of ad-hoc data acquisition from smartphone sensors by implementing a device agent for their collection in Android, as well as a protocol for their transfer. Then, we discuss our experience regarding the data collection of smartphone sensors, as well as legal and ethical issues that arise from their collection. Finally, we describe scenarios regarding the agent's preparation and use in a digital investigation.
ISSN:0167-4048
1872-6208
DOI:10.1016/j.cose.2013.03.007