Mobile Phone Forensics - A brief introductionWritten by Simon Steggles
Mobile Phone Forensics – A Brief IntroductionMobile Phone Forensics or Cell Phone Forensics techniques are improving daily. These services are now commercially available through certain specialist companies, (Mobile Phone Forensics, ( http://www.mobilephoneforensics.com ), Disklabs, ( http://www.disklabs.com ), and ICG Inc, ( http://www.icginc.com )), and is no longer reserved for most high profile murder enquiries, but by individuals checking to see if their partner or lover has been cheating on them, by Human Resources, who need to prove if “that” phone call was actually taken, or by Private Investigators who are checking to see if client was where they say they were at a given specific time. Above are of course, just a few of hundreds of examples of why mobile phone forensics are becoming more and more important in lives of military, investigative agencies, (police forces, security agencies, private investigators), human resources and indeed private individuals. These days, along with computer, mobile phone forensics is police officers first point of call. Where are you likely to record everything? Where are records of wrong doings going to be stored? Even if you are not sort of person to record wrong doings, human nature states that you will tell at least someone. On a computer, they could be stored within your PST file,(Microsoft Outlook personal storage file), your EDB file, (Microsoft Exchange storage file), your NSS, (Lotus Notes), your MSG, (Microsoft Outlook Express), and your EML, (generic email files), amongst others. All these records are kept digitally on various storage devices, be they mobile phone SIM cards, perhaps mobile phone 3G USIM cards, generic mobile phone memory or internal memory cards; mainly MMC memory cards, but not exclusively. Nowadays, forensic investigator does not have to solely rely on his mobile phone investigative resources, but has to have a sound knowledge of evidence handling, write-blocking and general computer forensics, to ensure that a full examination of all available data has been achieved for client in a sound and forensically correct manner.
| | Cell Phones Safety - Are They a Risk ?Written by Martin Smith
Cell phones are everywhere and I believe they are here to stay. With advent of cellular phones for public use came a whole host of issues that I don't think anyone expected, at least not in magnitude we are seeing today. There are two kinds of cell phone safety and then there is cell phone etiquette. There is practical cell phone safety, which addresses safest ways for you to use your cell, and etiquette plays a huge part in this. The other safety concern is that there are some health risks to those who use cellular phones. We will look at each issue in turn and hopefully give people something to ponder. Cell phones and driving are a big controversy. As a matter of fact many states in United States are contemplating enacting legislation that would ban use of cell phones in a car. While I think something has to be done about using cell phones while driving, I don't think it is a practical idea to ban their use altogether in vehicles. I don't know how it would be monitored except to develop technology that would block all numbers while driving except emergency numbers. Until such a thing occurs or people start refraining as much as possible from using a cell phone in their cars we must be extra careful on road. Driving safely while using a cell phone is a contradiction I think. There are however, some things you can do to improve your safety and that of others. The most important thing is to learn about your phone and all its features, (i.e. speed dial and redial). Memorize keypad in event you need to make a phone call while driving. Learn specifically about speed dial feature. The numbers you should put on speed dial is your spouse, 911, your job, your child's school, and number of a close relative that is not your spouse. As it is conversations on cell phone while driving will take your attention off road. If you have to use your cell phone while driving a hands free kit is a good choice. Conversations however, still should be kept to a minimum and where possible you should not talk if you are moving or in a hazardous situation (i.e. icy roads or heavy traffic). A speaker phone kit is available as well as a safety choice. Here again be mindful of when and where you are talking on cell phone. While you may be able to maintain your attention on road while using a speakerphone take care to ensure that conversation is not intense and is as quick as possible.
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