MSAB Digital Forensics Glossary
Key Terms and Definitions
Welcome to Our Digital Forensics Glossary — A resource for clear, concise definitions of key terms used in digital forensic investigations. This glossary includes terminology used in the field of smartphone investigations, mobile data extraction, and the analysis of digital evidence from mobile devices.
As mobile phones become central to cybercrime and digital investigations, it’s essential to understand critical concepts such as IMEI, mobile data acquisition, app artifacts, and SIM card analysis. You’ll also find definitions of broader digital forensics terms like hash values, metadata, and chain of custody — all explained in a straightforward, accessible format. Whether you’re a mobile forensics specialist, law enforcement officer, cybersecurity professional, or student, this glossary offers up-to-date explanations to help you navigate the rapidly evolving field of mobile forensics.
FAT32 (File Allocation Table 32)
FAT32, or File Allocation Table 32, is a widely used file system in mobile devices, particularly for external storage media such as SD cards and USB drives. It was introduced as an improvement over the older FAT16 file system, offering support for larger partition sizes and more efficient storage management. Understanding FAT32 is essential for […]
Read full termFBE (File Based Encryption) – Mobile Device Forensics
A method where each file on a mobile device’s partition is individually encrypted, requiring forensic tools to decrypt specific files for evidence analysis. Key Features of FBE Per-File Encryption: FBE encrypts each file individually using a unique key derived from the user’s credentials. This approach provides better security and flexibility compared to FDE. Direct Boot […]
Read full termFile System
The organizational structure (e.g., NTFS, FAT32) that manages data on a storage device, analyzed in forensics to locate files, recover deleted data, or detect anomalies.
Read full termFile System Extraction – Mobile Device Forensics
A forensic process that retrieves files embedded in a mobile device’s memory, capturing artifacts like photos, messages, or app data for analysis. File system extraction is a fundamental technique in mobile forensics that involves acquiring and analyzing data stored in a device’s file system. The file system is a critical component of a mobile device’s […]
Read full termForensic Analysis
The systematic examination of digital evidence to uncover facts, reconstruct events, or identify perpetrators in an investigation. Forensic data analytics is the process of applying analytical techniques to digital evidence collected during a mobile forensic investigation. It involves processing, examining, and interpreting large volumes of data to uncover patterns, anomalies, and insights that can help […]
Read full termForensic Data Acquisition Methods
Forensic data acquisition is a critical step in mobile forensics, as it involves collecting and preserving digital evidence from mobile devices in a forensically sound manner. There are several acquisition methods used in mobile forensics, each with its own advantages, limitations, and implications for data recovery and analysis. Logical Acquisition Logical acquisition involves extracting data […]
Read full termForensic Data Authentication
Forensic data authentication is the process of verifying the integrity and authenticity of digital evidence collected during a mobile forensic investigation. It ensures that the data has not been altered, tampered with, or corrupted since its acquisition, maintaining the evidence’s admissibility in legal proceedings. Authentication is a critical aspect of mobile forensics, as it establishes […]
Read full termForensic Data Carving
Forensic data carving is a technique used in mobile forensic investigations to recover deleted, fragmented, or unallocated data from digital storage media. It involves searching for and extracting data based on specific file signatures or patterns, rather than relying on file system metadata. Data carving is a crucial technique for recovering evidence that may have […]
Read full termForensic Data Carving Algorithms
Forensic data carving algorithms are specialized techniques used to recover deleted, fragmented, or unallocated data from digital storage media in mobile forensic investigations. These algorithms are designed to search for and extract data based on specific file signatures, patterns, or structures, enabling investigators to recover evidence that may not be readily accessible through traditional file […]
Read full termForensic Data Correlation
Forensic data correlation is the process of identifying and analyzing relationships, connections, and patterns between different data points or sources in a mobile forensic investigation. It involves linking and combining information from various artifacts, such as call logs, messages, location data, and application data, to establish a comprehensive understanding of the events, activities, and interactions […]
Read full termForensic Data Decryption
Forensic data decryption is the process of converting encrypted data from mobile devices into a readable format during a forensic investigation. As mobile devices increasingly employ encryption to protect user data, decryption has become a critical aspect of mobile forensics. Investigators must decrypt encrypted data to access and analyze the evidence stored on the device. […]
Read full termForensic Data Deduplication
Forensic data deduplication is the process of identifying and removing duplicate copies of data from the evidence collected during a mobile forensic investigation. Mobile devices often contain multiple copies of the same files or data, such as backups, synchronized data, or cached files. Deduplicating this data helps reduce the volume of data to be analyzed, […]
Read full termForensic Data Export
Forensic data export is the process of extracting and saving digital evidence from mobile devices or forensic tools in a format suitable for further analysis, sharing, or presentation. Exporting data allows investigators to work with the evidence using various tools, collaborate with other stakeholders, and prepare the evidence for court proceedings. Importance of Forensic Data […]
Read full termForensic Data Extraction Techniques
Forensic data extraction is the process of acquiring digital evidence from mobile devices using various techniques. The choice of extraction technique depends on factors such as the type of device, the state of the device (powered on or off), the level of access required, and the specific data sought. Each technique has its own advantages, […]
Read full termForensic Data Filtering
Forensic data filtering is the process of refining and narrowing down the collected digital evidence in a mobile forensic investigation to focus on the most relevant and pertinent information. With the increasing storage capacities of mobile devices, the amount of data acquired during an investigation can be overwhelming. Data filtering techniques help investigators prioritize their […]
Read full termForensic Data Indexing
Forensic data indexing is the process of organizing and optimizing the collected digital evidence in a mobile forensic investigation to enable efficient searching, retrieval, and analysis. Indexing creates a structured and searchable catalog of the extracted data, allowing investigators to quickly locate and access specific information without having to manually sift through the entire dataset. […]
Read full termFull Disk Encryption (FDE)
A security measure that encrypts an entire storage device, posing a challenge in forensics unless the decryption key or method is obtained. FDE, or Full Disk Encryption, is a security feature that encrypts the entire storage media of a mobile device, including the operating system, applications, and user data. FDE is designed to protect data […]
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