Cell phones reveal much about our daily communications -- the who, when and what of our calls and texts. A small chip card within most phones, called an identity module, stores this and other data for a subscriber. A subscriber identity module (SIM) accommodates phonebook entries, recently dialed numbers, text messages and cellular carrier information. Forensic examiners use off-the-shelf software tools to extract the data, allowing them to "connect the dots" in a criminal case such as identifying affiliations or detecting mobile phone activity around the time of an event.
But for this information to be used as evidence in court or other formal proceedings, the software tools that forensic teams employ are normally validated to determine suitability for use. Currently, preparing test materials for assessing cell phone tools is labor intensive and may require learning new command languages to perform the process.
They also developed an experimental application, called SIMfill, and a preliminary test dataset that follows the methodology described in the report. SIMfill can be used to automatically upload cell phone data such as phone numbers and text messages to "populate" test SIMs that can then be recovered by forensic cell phone tools. In this way, examiners can use SIMfill as one method to assess the quality of their off-the-shelf tool.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091202091032.htm
9 comments:
Three aspects of this review that were well presented were his description of the technology in the phone that holds the information, his telling us why this evidence cannot be used in court yet, and his description of the development of an experimental application. Two ways to improve this review would be to further describe how examiners get the information off of the SIM card further describe how examiners use the information gathered from the phone. From this review I learned that examiners used cell phones to advance their investigation.
This article was on a very interesting topic and I enjoyed reading it very much. Three things about this review that intrigued me the most were: The great amount of detail you put into it, which, I thought, was noteworthy beyond belief. In addition, I particularly enjoyed how you explained the new technologies in the cellular devices of this era and how they can help solve crimes. Finally, the third characteristic of your review that made it so great was that it taught me a great deal of knowledge regarding SIM cards and how agencies can use them to map out a criminals schedule, thereby giving analysts a better depiction of the criminal, and furthering their case against said criminal. In addition to the well presented aspects of this article, there are two ways, in my opinion, that the review could improve it. One way is that at some points, it seemed as if the information was being repeated in a way that increased the length of the review without adding new contextual pieces of information. This could have been avoided by cutting out the useless parts of the review, such as, "Currently, preparing test materials for assessing cell phone tools is labor intensive and may require learning new command languages to perform the process." This piece of information has no true value without deeper explanation, thereby deeming it useless. A second way to improve this already stupendous review is by explaining in greater detail exactly how information from a SIM card could be used in the Court of Law, and including information regarding what can be learned by investigating these SIM cards. Finally, from this review, I learned that it is very unwise to commit criminal acts over the phone because by doing so, one would leave a "paper trail", thereby increasing their chances of conviction and incarceration. peace
Three things that I liked about this review are his description of the development of an experimental application. I also liked the fact that the article pertains to a relevant idea, cell phones, which everyone can relate to. In addition i like how the examiners use off the shelf software to get the data. Two things that I would improve on are, one what type of software do they use to get the data. Also, in what type of cases would this type of technology by specifically used. From this article i learned how forensic investigators use new technology to advance their investigations and adapt as times change.
This article was particularly interesting because it relates to technology I use everyday. I liked this review because it discusses a relevant and available electronic as opposed to the often confusing technology which is discussed in many scientific articles. I also appreciated that Sam explained new types of cell phone technology, which I did not know about, and how they can be utilized to solve crimes. It is also important to note that the scientists are using off the shelf technology themselves to solve crimes.
I wish the article had discussed to the extent that the SIM cards are available. I know that some phones do not have removable ones and thus SIM cards can be tampered with. Also I would like to know how often forensic scientists actually utilize cell phones as a means of evidence in a crime.
This article informed me that cell phones are not only a modern convenience but an important tool of investigation for forensic scientists.
Three Aspects which Sam well represented were the types of information that is stored in phones, which parts of the phone carry them, and he showed how their off the shelf tools must be tested by court before their information can be used in court. Two things which I would suggest is to show if there were any types of false information that can be uploaded into these to frame someone, and if forensic scientist would be able to catch this false information versus real information.
Finally, I found it interesting that the information stored in our phones have different places such as the SIM where different types of information are stored.
Three aspects i enjoyed about this article were how phones that hold information cannot be used in court yet. Also, i enjoyed how the writer put a lot of detail and information into the article describing phones in court. Also, i enjoyed how far the advancements in technology have come. Two things that could be improved is how different things, possibly things that were deleted can be extracted from a cell phone. More detail should be put in as well, is how the information collected can keep its authenticity in court. One thing i learned, was that phones can now be used to advance an investigation.
Things that were well presented:
The article was articulate and thorough. The author did a great job of presenting the technology and its use. He also provided more than one example of the different cell phone technologies that are being used in forensic science.
I would suggest being more specific in how exactly these "cell phone technologies" are being used to trace criminal activity. I also felt that some of the information was extranneous or repeated, and did not contribute to proving the overall point of the review.
One thing that I was unaware of until now is how much information is actually stored in cell phones, and how much is being done in forensics to develop technology to identify evidence useable in the court of law.
Luke Nichols
This article was particularly interesting because it relates to technology I use everyday. Three things about this review that interested me the most were: The large amount of detail. I also liked this review because it discusses something relevant to the reader and something clear compared to the usual confusing technology which is discussed in many scientific articles. I also liked how both sam and the article explained new types of cell phone technology, and lastly how they can be utilized to solve crimes for example the new knowledge stated regarding SIM cards and how agencies can use them to map out a criminals schedule.Two ways to improve this review and summary would be to describe how examiners use the information gathered off the phone and describe in further detail how the examiners get the new information off the SIM card. Overall from this article I learned that examiners used cell phones to advance their investigations and also that it is very unwise to commit criminal acts over the phone because of how easy it is to remove vital information off a phone.
This article was extremely informative i really enjoyed this one. First off i believe that Sam did a great job explain the new technological advances in cell phones. Second, this article talked about electronics that the average man could posses unlike many articles that talk about top secret developments. Lastly I loved how Sam explained the new advances with cell phones. However one suggestion i would have to make it clear to the reader how info can be extracted from the phone even when it has been deleted. Another suggestion is talk about the same points again and again and again because it get repetitive.I thought this article was so cool and makes me think about what people could do with my cell phone.
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