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ANDROIDAPPDATA · A GUIDE FOR UK LAWYERS Android App Data and Third-Party Application Forensics Sandboxes, Sideloading and the Open Ecosystem: Every App Its Own World, and Some Worlds Stranger Than Others COMPUTER FORENSICS LAB
§ ABOUT THE AUTHOR PREPARED BY COMPUTER FORENSICS LAB E-DISCOVERY TEAM FULL CHAIN-OF-CUSTODY DOCUMENTATION
§ CONTENTS In this guide 01 Executive summary 02 The problem in plain English: an open ecosystem of worlds 03 How Android apps store their data 04 What the open ecosystem adds 05 Inventorying and recovering app data 06 Interpretation, attribution and honest limits 07 Deployment: the evidence inside the apps 08 Source architecture: where else the evidence lives 09 Worked examples 10 Common mistakes and technical limitations 11 Questions to ask · Suggested wording 12 Checklist and red flags · When to involve a digital forensic expert 13 Frequently asked questions 14 Glossary · References · Disclaimer · How a specialist laboratory can assist
§ 01 · ORIENTATION Executive summary files that must be under stood on their own terms, and the open ecosystem adds dimensions iOS lacks, sideloaded and obscure apps, cloned and "dual" apps running second accounts, app data on the SD card, and selective Google backup, so the apps must be inventoried including the unexpected ones, each under stood precisely, and the evidence inside recovered and attributed with care.
§ 02 · FIRST PRINCIPLES The problem in plain English: an open ecosystem of worlds
§ 03 · HOWAPPSSTOREDATA How Android apps store their data
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§ 04 · WHATOPENNESSADDS What the open ecosystem adds
§ 05 · INVENTORYANDRECOVERY Inventorying and recovering app data
§ 06 · INTERPRETATIONANDHONESTLIMITS Interpretation, attribution and honest limits
§ 07 · DEPLOYMENT Deployment: the evidence inside the apps
§ 08 · THEWIDERMAP Source architecture: where else the evidence lives EVIDENCE COUNTERPART APP EXTERNAL / GOOGLE APP CLOUD / PROVIDER SANDBOX SD CARD BACKUP ACCOUNT RECORDS
§ 09 · IN THE WILD Worked examples EXAMPLE1 · THESECONDWHATSAPPTHEINVENTORYREVEALED EXAMPLE2 · THECALCULATORTHATWASAVAULT EXAMPLE3 · THEMODIFIEDAPPTHATBEHAVEDDIFFERENTLY
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§ 10 · WHEREITGOESWRONG Common mistakes and technical limitations Common mistakes Technical limitations
§ 11 · INTERROGATORIES & DRAFTING AIDS Questions to ask · Suggested wording Ask your client Ask your opponent Ask your e Discovery / forensic provider SUGGESTED WORDING · INSTRUCTIONFORANANDROIDAPPANA LY SIS 2. Please, on the acquired device at sufficient depth and preserving integrity: (1) enumerate every installed
§ 12 · QUICK CONTROL Checklist and red flags · When to involve a digital forensic expert The Android app checklist Red flags When to involve a digital forensic expert
§ 13 · COMMON QUESTIONS Frequently asked questions How does Android app forensics differ from iPhone app forensics? What is a cloned or dual app? Can apps really be hidden on a phone? Why verify an app's version and whether it's modified? Is app data backed up to the Google account? Does app activity prove the phone's owner did it?
§ 14 · REFERENCE Glossary Sources and authoritative references DISCLAIMER
§ HOW A SPECIALIST LABORATORY CAN ASSIST Working with Computer Forensics Lab Speak to a forensic examiner, not a salesperson. INSTRUCTTHELAB NEWENQUIRIESEMAILE - DISCOVERY
Cite as: Joseph Naghdi, Android App Data And Third Party Application Forensics, Computer Forensics Lab, https://e-discovery.uk/library/android-app-data-and-third-party-application-forensics/pdf.