Network and device forensic analysis of Android social-messaging applications. (August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Walnycky, Daniel; Baggili, Ibrahim; Marrington, Andrew; Moore, Jason; Breitinger, Frank
• Is Part Of: Digital investigation. Volume 14(2015)Supplement 1
• Page Start: S77
• Page End: S84
• Publication Date: 2015-08
• Subjects: Network forensics -- Android forensics -- Instant messaging -- Privacy of messaging applications -- Application security testing -- Datapp; Forensic sciences -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Criminal investigation -- Data processing -- Periodicals; 363.250285
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diin.2015.05.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-2876

Abstract

Abstract: In this research we forensically acquire and analyze the device-stored data and network traffic of 20 popular instant messaging applications for Android. We were able to reconstruct some or the entire message content from 16 of the 20 applications tested, which reflects poorly on the security and privacy measures employed by these applications but may be construed positively for evidence collection purposes by digital forensic practitioners. This work shows which features of these instant messaging applications leave evidentiary traces allowing for suspect data to be reconstructed or partially reconstructed, and whether network forensics or device forensics permits the reconstruction of that activity. We show that in most cases we were able to reconstruct or intercept data such as: passwords, screenshots taken by applications, pictures, videos, audio sent, messages sent, sketches, profile pictures and more.