Mobile Cloud Computing: implications to smartphone forensic procedures and methodologies

The Smartphone is a powerful miniature computer that has phone capabilities and has been sold globally to billions of people, because of its flexibility for work and entertainment. Third party applications are the reason why the Smartphone is so popular, and Cloud computing is the driving force for the growth of these applications. The combination of Smartphone and Cloud computing technology has also led to many predictions. The forecast of Allied Business Intelligence (ABI) is that by 2014 mobile Cloud computing will become the leading mobile application development and deployment strategy (ABI, 2009). Gartner (2010) predicts that 90% of companies will support corporate applications on personal mobile devices by 2014. Gartner (2010) also predicts a huge increase in both mobile and Cloud computing, with an expected US$6.2 billion to be spent on mobile applications and US$68.3 billion on Cloud Computing services. However, it must also be remembered that, “the more popular the technology, the more opportunity exists for its misuse” (Turnbull & Slay, 2008, p.1355). Motivated by potential financial gain, Smartphone viruses have already been implemented through the utilization of Cloud computing technology to cause huge global economic damage. There is a growing understanding of how to conduct digital forensic analysis on mobile devices. However, there is little understanding of how to apply digital forensic methodologies in Cloud computing, and even less understanding in how to apply forensic methodologies in mobile Cloud investigation. The aim of this thesis is to identify the impact of Cloud computing on Smartphone forensics and to test current mobile forensic tools, methodologies and procedures in different mobile Cloud forensic scenarios. Furthermore, the aim of this thesis is to provide recommendations in conducting forensic investigation in mobile Cloud computing. Future research direction within this research topic area will also be identified.

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