Cellular Phone Forensics
What you CAN & CAN’T get from a forensic examination of a cellular phone
Understanding Cellular Phone Forensics: What You Can Recover Without Hacking
When conducting cellular phone forensics on devices like iPhones (iOS) or Android smartphones, we focus on retrieving data without “cracking,” “hacking,” or “jailbreaking” the device. With proper credentials—such as passcodes or account logins—we can access and recover extensive data that may have been deleted accidentally or intentionally. Here’s a breakdown of what can be retrieved:
“Unlocking Hidden Data: How Cellular Phone Forensics Recovers Deleted Messages, Media, and More Without Hacking“.
- Text Messages (SMS, MMS, and deleted messages)
- Call Logs (incoming, outgoing, and missed)
- Photos & Videos (including deleted media)
- Chat Histories (WhatsApp, iMessage, etc.)
- App Data (social media, email, etc.)
- Image & Video from "hidden" apps
- GPS Location Data
Text Messages
We recover both current and deleted SMS, MMS, and messages from platforms like iMessage, WhatsApp, and other popular messaging apps. This includes timestamps, sender/receiver details, and the full conversation history. Even if messages have been deleted, our tools often can retrieve them unless they have been overwritten by new data.
Call Logs
Our forensic process includes retrieving complete call histories, showing incoming, outgoing, and missed calls. This also includes information about the contact, call duration, and, in some cases, deleted call logs that can provide a timeline of communication patterns.
Photos & Videos
We recover current and deleted media files, including photos, videos, and associated metadata such as geolocation data and timestamps. Even media files that users thought were permanently erased can be recovered in many cases, providing critical visual evidence for investigations thanks to cell phone forensics.
- Playlist
- Financial Data
- Friends List
- Hidden Social Media Accounts
- Hidden Photos
- Usage Data
Chat Histories
Deleted chat histories from apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and other social media platforms can be retrieved. This includes not only text messages but also multimedia, such as images, videos, and voice messages, giving a complete record of interactions.
App Data
We can extract data from installed applications, including social media apps, email platforms, and browsers. This allows us to create a detailed digital footprint of user activity, whether it’s browsing history, in-app messages, or posts shared across social platforms.
GPS Location Data
We can extract GPS data from devices, which can reveal location history through timestamps and geotagged photos or messages. This information helps to create a timeline of where the device was at specific moments, providing valuable location-based evidence in investigations.
The Importance of Credentials
When a cellular phone is brought to Blue Copper Investigations, having the proper phone credentials like passcodes or account logins is key to safely and legally accessing data. With these credentials, we can recover deleted data without hacking or jailbreaking the device. Cell phone forensics is a valuable tool in various investigations, including fraud, infidelity, embezzlement, and more, allowing us to uncover hidden evidence that can support legal cases or personal matters.