Mobile Handset Forensic Evidence: a challenge for Law Enforcement

Mobile phone proliferation in our societies is on the increase. Advances in semiconductor technologies related to mobile phones and the increase of computing power of mobile phones led to an increase of functionality of mobile phones while keeping the size of such devices small enough to fit in a pocket. This led mobile phones to become portable data carriers. This in turn increased the potential for data stored on mobile phone handsets to be used as evidence in civil or criminal cases. This paper examines the nature of some of the newer pieces of information that can become potential evidence on mobile phones. It also discusses some of the emerging technologies and their potential impact on mobile phone based evidence. The paper will also cover some of the inherent differences between mobile phone forensics and computer forensics. It also highlights some of the weaknesses of mobile forensic toolkits and procedures. Finally, the paper shows the need for more in depth examination of mobile phone evidence.