Step 1: Mobile Technology Overview

You're ready to begin writing your White Paper. The Sheriff has stated that the first section should be an overview of how cellular networks operate. You decide to tackle the topics of how mobile phones communicate with cell sites, cellular to cellular communication, mobile switching centers, and the base switching subsystem. You also want to cover the technology of mobile networks, including form factors, smart devices, and other wireless technologies.

Submit the results of your research (3-5 pages) to the Sheriff (your instructor) for review and ungraded feedback. Incorporate any suggested changes. Your overview will serve as the introduction to the 13-21 page White Paper that you submit upon completion of this project (Step 6).

Mobile technologies are constantly changing and your department needs to keep up so you decide to address trends in mobile technology in the next section of your paper.

With the overview drafted, you now need to describe trends in mobile technology. For this step, you decide to address handset transmission types and mobile operating systems, as well as challenges and threats represented by mobile technology. The "Trends" section would not be complete without addressing the latest in embedded device forensics. Once you have developed the trends in mobile technology section, you are ready to move on to considerations for the forensic handling of mobile devices.

Review this 3-5 page section of your paper for accuracy and completeness; it will serve as the second section of your final White Paper (Step 6).

After detailing trends in mobile technology, your next step is to discuss laws and regulations governing the search and seizure of mobile devices, as well as the mobile device forensics process, including considerations for handling, investigative techniques, mobile forensic tools, and location of evidence. These subjects are important because mobile devices present unique challenges when it comes to handling and analysis, and court cases are won or lost based on the arresting officer’s understanding of legal technicalities. Upon completion of this section, you will be ready to move on to the next section of your paper: forensic tools and investigative techniques.

Review this 3-5 page section of your paper for accuracy and completeness; it will serve as the third section of your final White Paper (Step 6).

You have discussed your research on laws, regulations, and forensic handling. You are now ready to create the fourth section of your White Paper where you describe the analysis and presentation of forensic information. Based on your training, you know you will need to include file system analysis,techniques for working through security measures , and third-party applications in this section. In addition, you will address data carving, file system, and compound file analysis and the presentation of a case report.

Review this 3-5 page section of your paper for accuracy and completeness; it will serve as the fourth section of your final White Paper (Step 6).

You are ready to move on to a final, less-objective summary of your research on the evolving field of mobile forensics.

In the previous four steps you have reported on a variety of topics relating to mobile forensics. You have read and reported on technologies, trends, laws and regulations, handling, and analysis of mobile data. For the final section of your paper, the Sheriff has asked for your own personal perspective on the biggest threat posed by cyber-criminals using mobile technology in the coming years, and a technology that shows promises a solution. Reflect on your in-class and outside readings, as well as your personal and professional experience, to respond to these questions. There are no right or wrong answers, but please provide references for your observations. You will be attaching this 1-page section to the White Paper that you submit in the final step of this project.