Learning Android Forensics

If you are a forensic analyst or an information security professional wanting to develop your knowledge of Android forensics, then this is the book for you. Some basic knowledge of the Android mobile platform is expected.

A comprehensive guide to Android forensics, from setting up the workstation to analyzing key artifacts Key FeaturesGet up and running with modern mobile forensic strategies and techniquesAnalyze the most popular Android applications using free and open source forensic toolsLearn malware detection and analysis techniques to investigate mobile cybersecurity incidentsBook Description Many forensic examiners rely on commercial, push-button tools to retrieve and analyze data, even though there is no tool that does either of these jobs perfectly. Learning Android Forensics will introduce you to the most up-to-date Android platform and its architecture, and provide a high-level overview of what Android forensics entails. You will understand how data is stored on Android devices and how to set up a digital forensic examination environment. As you make your way through the chapters, you will work through various physical and logical techniques to extract data from devices in order to obtain forensic evidence. You will also learn how to recover deleted data and forensically analyze application data with the help of various open source and commercial tools. In the concluding chapters, you will explore malware analysis so that you’ll be able to investigate cybersecurity incidents involving Android malware. By the end of this book, you will have a complete understanding of the Android forensic process, you will have explored open source and commercial forensic tools, and will have basic skills of Android malware identification and analysis. What you will learnUnderstand Android OS and architectureSet up a forensics environment for Android analysisPerform logical and physical data extractionsLearn to recover deleted dataExplore how to analyze application dataIdentify malware on Android devicesAnalyze Android malwareWho this book is for If you are a forensic analyst or an information security professional wanting to develop your knowledge of Android forensics, then this is the book for you. Some basic knowledge of the Android mobile platform is expected.

"Android Forensics" covers an open source mobile device platform based on the Linux 2.6 kernel and managed by the Open Handset Alliance. This book provides a thorough review of the Android platform including supported hardware devices, the structure of the Android development project, and implementation of core services (wireless communication, data storage, and other low-level functions).

The book is an easy-to-follow guide with clear instructions on various mobile forensic techniques. The chapters and the topics within are structured for a smooth learning curve, which will swiftly empower you to master mobile forensics. If you are a budding forensic analyst, consultant, engineer, or a forensic professional wanting to expand your skillset, this is the book for you. The book will also be beneficial to those with an interest in mobile forensics or wanting to find data lost on mobile devices. It will be helpful to be familiar with forensics in general but no prior experience is required to follow this book.

Become well-versed with forensics for the Android, iOS, and Windows 10 mobile platforms by learning essential techniques and exploring real-life scenarios Key FeaturesApply advanced forensic techniques to recover deleted data from mobile devicesRetrieve and analyze data stored not only on mobile devices but also on the cloud and other connected mediumsUse the power of mobile forensics on popular mobile platforms by exploring different tips, tricks, and techniquesBook Description Mobile phone forensics is the science of retrieving data from a mobile phone under forensically sound conditions. This updated fourth edition of Practical Mobile Forensics delves into the concepts of mobile forensics and its importance in today's world. The book focuses on teaching you the latest forensic techniques to investigate mobile devices across various mobile platforms. You will learn forensic techniques for multiple OS versions, including iOS 11 to iOS 13, Android 8 to Android 10, and Windows 10. The book then takes you through the latest open source and commercial mobile forensic tools, enabling you to analyze and retrieve data effectively. From inspecting the device and retrieving data from the cloud, through to successfully documenting reports of your investigations, you'll explore new techniques while building on your practical knowledge. Toward the end, you will understand the reverse engineering of applications and ways to identify malware. Finally, the book guides you through parsing popular third-party applications, including Facebook and WhatsApp. By the end of this book, you will be proficient in various mobile forensic techniques to analyze and extract data from mobile devices with the help of open source solutions. What you will learnDiscover new data extraction, data recovery, and reverse engineering techniques in mobile forensicsUnderstand iOS, Windows, and Android security mechanismsIdentify sensitive files on every mobile platformExtract data from iOS, Android, and Windows platformsUnderstand malware analysis, reverse engineering, and data analysis of mobile devicesExplore various data recovery techniques on all three mobile platformsWho this book is for This book is for forensic examiners with basic experience in mobile forensics or open source solutions for mobile forensics. Computer security professionals, researchers or anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of mobile internals will also find this book useful. Some understanding of digital forensic practices will be helpful to grasp the concepts covered in the book more effectively.

In this book, the editors explain how students enrolled in two digital forensic courses at their institution are exposed to experiential learning opportunities, where the students acquire the knowledge and skills of the subject-matter while also learning how to adapt to the ever-changing digital forensic landscape. Their findings (e.g., forensic examination of different IoT devices) are also presented in the book. Digital forensics is a topic of increasing importance as our society becomes “smarter” with more of the “things” around us been internet- and inter-connected (e.g., Internet of Things (IoT) and smart home devices); thus, the increasing likelihood that we will need to acquire data from these things in a forensically sound manner. This book is of interest to both digital forensic educators and digital forensic practitioners, as well as students seeking to learn about digital forensics.

Mobile technologies have become a staple in society for their accessibility and diverse range of applications that are continually growing and advancing. Users are increasingly using these devices for activities beyond simple communication including gaming and e-commerce and to access confidential information including banking accounts and medical records. While mobile devices are being so widely used and accepted in daily life, and subsequently housing more and more personal data, it is evident that the security of these devices is paramount. As mobile applications now create easy access to personal information, they can incorporate location tracking services, and data collection can happen discreetly behind the scenes. Hence, there needs to be more security and privacy measures enacted to ensure that mobile technologies can be used safely. Advancements in trust and privacy, defensive strategies, and steps for securing the device are important foci as mobile technologies are highly popular and rapidly developing. The Research Anthology on Securing Mobile Technologies and Applications discusses the strategies, methods, and technologies being employed for security amongst mobile devices and applications. This comprehensive book explores the security support that needs to be required on mobile devices to avoid application damage, hacking, security breaches and attacks, or unauthorized accesses to personal data. The chapters cover the latest technologies that are being used such as cryptography, verification systems, security policies and contracts, and general network security procedures along with a look into cybercrime and forensics. This book is essential for software engineers, app developers, computer scientists, security and IT professionals, practitioners, stakeholders, researchers, academicians, and students interested in how mobile technologies and applications are implementing security protocols and tactics amongst devices.