Forensic analysis of android mobile devices

Abstract

Android operating system (OS) gained popularity in recent days. It provides almost similar functionalities available in desktop/laptop computers. Users can create documents, browse Internet, access, read and send emails, phone calling, SMSs and MMSs, Personal planners and keeping confidential information in various forms. These android devices and applications provide flexibility and ease of use for communication, web browsing, sharing and social interaction among friends, families and various groups personally and professionally. On the other side, these devices and applications are vulnerable places to prayed cyber criminals to compromise the applications. In order to identify a sequence of activities carried out by suspected person, forensic examination of the Smartphone is necessary for many of cyber crime investigations. In this paper authors presents a forensic analysis of the android device with respect to all kinds of memory areas in the phone and also discussed the analysis of contact information, call history and exchange of chat messages including video, audio and images. The analysis results provided and facilitate an investigator to correlate the activities carried out by a person using the Smartphone with malicious intention.