Non-traditional communications devices such as smartphones and game consoles
pose a particular problem to law enforcement agencies trying to milk them for
forensic data that reveals criminal activity, attendees were told at the 2010
Computer Forensics Show in New York City.
"Forensic tools for cell phones are in their infancy," says Stephen Riley, a
forensic examiner with the FBI's Computer Analysis and Response Team. "There's
lots of different carriers, different phones, different cables – just try to
keep up."
Smartphones can communicate via SMS, MMS, mobile e-mail, mobile internet
access, VoIP and traditional cellular voice networks, Riley says, making each
machine a potential treasure trove of information but also a nightmare maze of
possible proprietary technologies to unlock it.
