The Rising Cost of Mobile Forensics

The cost of mobile forensics is increasing, and it's not just the price of the software to blame. As mobile phones continue to become more complicated and capable of doing more super cool things, the ability to retrieve and analyze data takes longer because it's all become more complicated.


Gone are the days of the quick, 16-hour examination of an iPhone. If your client only cares about the content of texts, emails, and pictures, then, sure, you could grab that for them in 16 hours. But if you need anything more in-depth (and you will), it will take a lot more analysis and time than that. Things change in every update, which means the examiner must spend more time analyzing, testing, and validating the data. Even IF something has NOT changed with an update, many mobile device exams require some testing and validating of the data.

All of this increases the prices passed to the clients in three ways. First, the cost of the software is passed along. Second, the longer it takes to analyze a mobile phone, the more the client will have to pay. Third, if you have to buy devices to test and validate results, that cost is also passed along (one way or another).

Now this sounds expensive.



How can we help control the costs? Communicate with your client and asks lots of questions. It might seem like a waste of time to talk instead of examine, but you can learn so much during these conversations to help guide and narrow your examination. Here's what I typically ask my clients:
·       Can you give me an overview of the case?
·       What are the top 3 to 5 things you need to know?
·       What are the top 3 to 5 things you must confirm or refute?
·       Why do you need to know these things?
·       Why are these your top priorities?

You might have different ideas about what's important, and that's ok. Talk to your client about it. Sometimes, they don't know what you can or can't do. It's important to be on the same page regarding time, feasibility, and goals.

MobileForensics SelfEmployed ExpertWitness DigitalForensics RisingCosts
Location: Lincoln, NE, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Time is the longest distance between 2 points

Image
 "Time is the longest distance between two points."   These words by Tennessee Williams resonate deeply, considering the fragility of our memories and the challenges they pose in crucial moments. Imagine finding yourself on the witness stand, desperately grasping for recollections from the distant past. In this crucial moment, the true weight of time becomes evident.   The importance of detailed case notes cannot be overstated in legal proceedings. They are a vital link that connects our present selves with our past actions. Without them, our memories may falter, we have nothing to refresh our memory, and the quest for truth becomes an arduous struggle.   Case notes are the guardians of our actions, meticulously capturing what we did, discovered, what we found, and even what we didn't. They are the tangible records that safeguard the integrity of our recollections, preventing them from slipping away into the abyss of time.   Picture yourself in ...
Read more

How AI & Deepfakes lead to Sextortion

Image
Buckle up, and prepare yourself for the dark side of technological progress because AI is no exception to the rule. Imagine a world where scammers wield the power of AI to create mind-boggling deepfakes, exposing you in compromising situations. These sextortion scams have reached a whole new level of maliciousness. Let me shed some light on two prevalent ways these scams are executed: Picture this: someone close to you possesses naked pictures of you and shamelessly uses them to manipulate you into doing something you'd rather avoid. It's a terrifying thought, especially considering the perpetrator's familiarity with you. OR Picture receiving a random email that boldly claims to have a treasure trove of your intimate photos. Your disbelief drives you to click the link, only to realize you've fallen into a trap. As a result, your online accounts and even your beloved devices become vulnerable to compromise. I worked several sextortion cases in the FBI; some were your ave...
Read more

Here's what to do if you get catfished.

Image
  Got catfished? Do this. Break all contact. If you send them a message about ending it, they may pursue you more heavily vs. suddenly ending all contact. Report the profile on the social media platform Report them to the organization and dating site you made contact on If you lost money, report it to your local police department Report it to  https://ic3.gov
Read more