SMS And IMessage Evidence

SMS & IMESSAGEEVIDENCE · AGUIDEFORUKLAWYERS SMS and iMessage Evidence Message Databases, Cloud Sync, Deleted Threads, Timestamps and Attribution on the Phone's Native Channels COMPUTERFORENSICSLAB § ABOUTTHEAUTHOR PRE PA REDBYCOMPUTERFORENSICSLABE - DISCOVERYTEAM ESTABLISHED 2007 · LONDON ISO 17025-ALIGNED PROCEDURES MESSAGE-DATABASE FORENSICS CLOUD & BACKUP ARCHAEOLOGY CPR PART 35 EXPERT REPORTS FULL CHAIN-OF-CUSTODY DOCUMENTATION § CONTENTS In this guide 01 Executive summary 02 The problem in plain English: two services in one inbox 03 The stores: message databases and their deleted layers 04 iMessage's ecosystem: sync, devices and backup lineages 05 SMS's ecosystem: carriers, operator records and RCS 06 Deletion and recovery: windows, propagation, realities 07 Timestamps, attribution and authentication 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 § 0 1 · ORIENTATION Executive summary THEHEADLINEPOINT : ONEINBOX , TWOARCHITECTURES : ANDTHEARCHITECTURE DECIDESWHERETHEEVIDENCELIVESANDHOWITDIES § 0 2 · FIRSTPRINCIPLES The problem in plain English: two services in one inbox § 0 3 · THESTORES The stores: message databases and their deleted layers § 0 4 · THEAPPLEECOSYSTEM iMessage's ecosystem: sync, devices and backup lineages § 0 5 · THECARRIERSIDE SMS's ecosystem: carriers, operator records and RCS § 0 6 · GONE , ANDBACK Deletion and recovery: windows, propagation, realities § 0 7 · STANDINGUP Timestamps, attribution and authentication 63) applied natively: the checkmate for contested threads. § 0 8 · THEWIDERMAP Source architecture: where else the evidence lives EVIDENCE DEVICE DEVICES (SYNC/ PRIMARY PEER ICLOUD (FFS) (MAC, IPAD) BACKUPS) COMPUTER COUNTERPART DELETED / BACKUPS + OPERATOR RECOVERABLE § 0 9 · INTHEWILD Worked examples EXAMPLE1 · THEMACTHATREMEMBEREDTHERESIGNATION EXAMPLE2 · THEWINDOWTHATCAUGHTTHEWEEKENDEDIT EXAMPLE3 · THEOPERATORRECORDSTHATOUTLIVEDBOTHPHONES § 1 0 · WHEREITGOESWRONG Common mistakes and technical limitations Common mistakes Technical limitations § 1 1 · INTERROGATORIES & DRAFTINGAIDS Questions to ask · Suggested wording Ask your client Ask your opponent Ask your eDiscovery / forensic provider SUGGESTEDWORDING · N AT IVE - CHANNELLIMBFORTHEPRESER VAT IONLETTER § 1 2 · QUICKCONTROL Checklist and red flags · When to involve a digital forensic expert The native-channel checklist Red flags When to involve a digital forensic expert § 1 3 · COMMONQUESTIONS Frequently asked questions Can deleted texts be recovered? Can we get message content from the phone companies? Someone unsent a message. Is it gone? How do we prove who actually sent a text from a shared or accessible phone? The thread mixes green and blue bubbles. Does the analysis change mid-conversation? What single step best protects a native-channel case this week? § 1 4 · REFERENCE Glossary RCS. Sources and authoritative references 35 reporting): cflab.uk/digital-forensics-services · guides library: cflab.uk/guides DISCLAIMER § HOWASPECIALISTLABORATORYCANASSIST Working with Computer Forensics Lab Speak to a forensic examiner, not a salesperson. INSTRUCTTHELAB NEWENQUIRIESEMAILE - DISCOVERY