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

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