Project Two

Title:
Successful device acquisition vs. device submersion duration

Subtitle:
A longevity study analyzing the efficacy of recovery techniques applied against water duration damage of mobile phones.

Description:
Research project on the effectiveness of water recovery techniques compared to forensic acquisition success.

Hypothesis:
As the duration of water exposure increases, the efficacy of recovery techniques diminishes and increasingly complex techniques are required to recover data from intact mobile phones.

Scenario:
A defined set of identical devices with known datasets will be exposed to fresh water submersion for specific periods of time. A forensic acquisition will be completed against the device before water submersion. After retrieval from the water, industry standard PCB cleaning and water mitigation techniques will be applied against the devices. Once the devices are clean, dry and stable; forensic acquisitions will be attempted again. As damaged increases to the devices, forensic acquisition techniques will shift from (1) tethered connection to device then (2) JTAG connection to circuit board and finally (3) chip-off of the controller and flash memory chips on the devices.

Devices will be tracked for duration submerged, duration from retrieval until recovery begins, water variables, recovery techniques, and forensic acquisition success. All devices will be known good devices prior to submersion with a defined dataset on device.

Submerged durations:
24 hours; 7, 30, 180, and 365 days

Submerged liquid:
Freshwater

Expanded research:
If interest and support exists for collaboration, project can be expanded to included brackish and saltwater submersions with identical scenarios.

Current Project Status:
Estimated start date November 2014.

Help Needed:
  1. Survey input from law enforcement and government agencies with experience in water damaged mobile phones.
    • Options for survey input:
      • A brief 15 - 30 minute phone call or video conference.
      • Online form, results will be kept private among research team.
    • Input will be aggregated together and anonymized to ensure discretion for the agencies participating.
  2. Funding to cover to mobile devices that will be used for testing and lab supplies used for water damage recovery.
  3. Expanded research:
    • Funding for travel expenses to partner locations.
    • Personnel at partner locations who can assist with research.
Survey:

Presentations:
Work-in-progress presentation and project announcement at DFRWS 2014, Denver, Colorado, 05 August 2014.

Publication:
TBD

Contact: