Forensic examination of mobile phones

The proliferation of mobile phones in society has led to a concomitant increase in their use in and connected to criminal activity. The examination and analysis of all telecommunications equipment has become an important aid to law enforcement in the investigation of crime. An understanding of the mechanism of the mobile phone network is vital to appreciate the worth of data retrieved during such an examination. This paper describes in principle the way a cellular mobile phone network operates and how the data is processed. In addition it discusses some of the tools available to examine mobile phones and SIM cards and some of their strengths and weaknesses. It also presents a short overview of the legal position of an analyst when examining a mobile phone.