According to Forensic Discovery, 70 million smartphones are lost yearly, and only 7% are recovered and returned to their rightful owners. This statistic shows that a lot of personal data is lost and can land in unauthorized hands. Computer forensics services can retrieve your data from a lost phone by using various methods and tools to find and extract digital information from mobile devices. After the initial consultation, where you can tell the technician the nature of the case, the type of device, and many relevant details, the professional team gets to work. Let’s take a look at their process.
Making a Copy of the Data
First, the forensic expert will copy the mobile device’s data. This process involves creating a bit-by-bit copy of the device’s storage, which ensures the original information remains intact and unaltered. Special care is taken to document the chain of custody to ensure the integrity of the recovered data.
Extracting and Analyzing the Retrieved Data
The information usually extracted includes call logs, text messages, emails, social media conversations, photos, videos, browsing history, and app data. After it’s taken, it’s analyzed using software to search, filter, and interpret it. In special cases, the technician may need to use advanced techniques to recover deleted or hidden data from the device. If your lost mobile phone contains encrypted information, then the forensic service company will use decryption methods to gain access to data protected by encryption.
Careful Documentation of Data
When the computer forensic service recovers data from a mobile device, they need to document their findings and the analysis of what they did. The report includes a clear and concise summary of the evidence discovered and any relevant metadata or time stamps. The report may also include visual aids, such as screenshots or diagrams, to support the findings.
When Security Is a Concern
In cases where the security of the data or the people involved is a concern, the computer forensics service can conduct a mobile compromise assessment. It involves identifying and analyzing potential security vulnerabilities, unauthorized access, or compromised software or applications on the mobile device. The assessment helps the client understand the extent of any security breaches and take appropriate remedial actions.
A computer forensics company works closely with clients, follows rigorous procedures, and employs specialized tools and techniques to extract and analyze digital evidence from mobile phones. They play a crucial role in uncovering and documenting evidence, providing expert testimony, and assisting clients in various legal, regulatory, or security-related matters.
