Encryption and Its Impact on Mobile Forensics

The widespread use of encryption on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets has created significant challenges for mobile forensics investigations. Encryption is used to protect data by transforming plain text into cipher text that can only be read by those with the correct encryption key. Modern mobile operating systems like Android and iOS have encryption enabled by default, making extraction and analysis of data from these devices difficult without access methods.

Common Encryption Techniques Used on Mobiles

Some of the main encryption methods used to secure data on mobile devices include:

• Device encryption: Modern mobile OS encrypt device storage by default using strong encryption like AES and RSA. It scrambles data saved on the device, requiring passcodes or pins to decrypt.
• App/file encryption: Specific apps and files may utilize their own encryption schemes to enhance security. Apps like messaging platforms and password managers commonly do.
• Network traffic encryption: All network traffic going to and from the mobile device can be encrypted through protocols like SSL/TLS and VPNs. This protects data in transmission.

Challenges Encryption Poses for Mobile Forensics

While encryption is critical for securing user privacy and data on devices, it creates barriers for legal forensic investigations:

• Encrypted devices must be cracked to extract data. This requires circumventing passcodes by brute force guessing, exploiting security flaws or utilizing vendor backdoors.
• Decryption takes time and specialized skills or resources that investigators may lack. Manual decryption of advanced schemes can be very difficult.
• Valuable user data and activity traces can be unavailable once devices are encrypted after a suspect resets or wipes a device.
• Critical artefacts may be missing or lost when encryption keys are unavailable to decrypt app data, files, and traffic.

To tackle these challenges, mobile forensics teams increasingly require advanced technical capabilities and resources as well as cooperation from device manufacturers and service providers where possible. However, encryption will likely continue to disrupt traditional mobile evidence discovery and analysis methods. Overall, accessible encryption strengthens data security for users, presenting obstacles, risks and costs concerning digital forensics investigations. The balance between these two competing tensions continues to evolve.