Glossary - MSAB

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.

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Dark Web Mobile Investigations

Dark Web mobile investigations focus on the intersection of mobile devices and hidden online networks, such as the Tor network, I2P, and Freenet. As criminals increasingly use mobile devices to access and conduct illicit activities on the Dark Web, investigators must develop specialized skills and techniques to uncover and analyze evidence from these devices. […]

Data Acquisition

The process of collecting and retrieving digital evidence from devices, networks, or storage media in a forensically sound manner, ensuring the integrity of the original data is preserved.

Data Breach

An incident where unauthorized individuals gain access to sensitive, protected, or confidential data, often requiring forensic investigation to determine the scope and impact.

Data Carving

A technique used to extract files or data fragments from unallocated space or damaged storage media without relying on file system metadata, often used to recover deleted or corrupted files. Data carving is a digital forensic technique used to extract and reconstruct files and data fragments from unallocated space, slack space, or partially overwritten […]

Data Collection

The lawful process of gathering digital artifacts (e.g., files, logs, or metadata) from devices using specialized technology, ensuring evidence is collected in a forensically sound manner.

Data Decryption

The process of converting encrypted data back into its original, readable form using a key or password, often a critical step in digital forensics to access protected evidence.

Data Duplication

Creating an exact copy (bit-for-bit) of digital evidence, such as a hard drive or memory card, to preserve the original while allowing analysis on the duplicate. Also known as imaging.

Data Enrichment – Mobile Device Forensics

The process of enhancing extracted data from a mobile device by integrating external data sources, such as location information for Wi-Fi BSSIDs or cell towers, often facilitated by tools like MSAB XRY and MSAB XRY Pro and MSAB XAMN Pro.

Data Exfiltration

The unauthorized transfer or removal of data from a device or network, often investigated in digital forensics to trace the method and destination of the breach.

Data File – Mobile Device Forensics

A file containing raw or processed data extracted from a mobile device, which can be adjusted or analyzed using tools like MSAB XAMN Pro to uncover evidence or insights. Could be provided in a forensically sound format such as the .xry file.

Data Integrity

The assurance that digital evidence remains unchanged and authentic throughout the forensic process, typically verified using hash functions like MD5 or SHA-1.

Data Recovery

The process of retrieving lost, deleted, or inaccessible data from storage media, often a preliminary step in forensic investigations to uncover evidence.

Data Source – Digital Forensics

A location or system (e.g., hard drive, cloud storage, or mobile device) from which digital evidence can be retrieved during a forensic investigation, serving as the origin of data for analysis.

Data Validation

The process of verifying the quality, accuracy, and completeness of data extracted during a forensic investigation to ensure it is reliable and admissible as evidence.

Database Forensics

The examination of databases and their related metadata to investigate incidents such as unauthorized access, data manipulation, or SQL injection attacks. Or could be the analysis of database contents for forensic analysis

Dead Box Mobile Forensics

Dead box mobile forensics refers to the process of extracting and analyzing data from mobile devices that are powered off or in a non-operational state. This type of forensic analysis is necessary when investigators encounter devices that cannot be powered on due to damage, battery depletion, or intentional shutdown by the user. Importance of […]

Decentralized Exchange Contract – Crypto

A smart contract on a blockchain that facilitates cryptocurrency and token trades without a central authority, potentially relevant in forensic investigations of financial crimes.

Decoding

The process of interpreting encoded data (e.g., Base64, hexadecimal) into a human-readable format, often necessary to analyze logs or hidden messages in forensic cases.

Decoding – Mobile Device Forensics

The process of translating raw, unreadable data (e.g., hexadecimal) from a mobile device into a human-readable format, enabling forensic examiners to interpret evidence such as text messages or logs.

Decoding and Decryption

Two distinct processes in forensics: “Decoding” converts unstructured data into structured, readable data, while “Decryption” unlocks encrypted data using a key or algorithm, both critical for accessing and analyzing digital evidence.

Deconfliction

The process of identifying and consolidating similar or overlapping data across multiple devices or datasets to eliminate redundancies and ensure a clear, unified view of evidence.

Decrypt WhatsApp Database

The forensic process of unlocking and accessing the encrypted contents of a WhatsApp database on a device, revealing messages, media, and other data for analysis, often requiring specialized tools or keys.

Deep Web

The portion of the internet not indexed by standard search engines, often requiring specific tools or credentials to access, and sometimes relevant in forensic investigations of illicit activities.

Deleted Data Recovery

Deleted data recovery is a crucial aspect of digital forensics that involves retrieving and analyzing data that has been deleted or marked as unallocated on a digital device’s storage media. The ability to recover deleted data is essential for investigators, as it can provide valuable evidence in criminal cases, civil litigation, and corporate investigations. Importance […]

Deleted File Recovery

A forensic technique to retrieve files that have been removed from a file system but still exist in unallocated space until overwritten.

Denial-of-Service (DoS)

A cyberattack aimed at overwhelming a system or network to disrupt its availability, often leaving digital traces (e.g., logs) that forensic analysts investigate.

Device Fingerprinting

The identification of a specific device based on unique characteristics (e.g., hardware IDs, MAC addresses), used in forensics to link a device to an incident.

DFIR (Digital Forensics and Incident Response)

DFIR, or Digital Forensics and Incident Response, is a multidisciplinary approach that combines the principles and techniques of digital forensics with the tactical and strategic aspects of incident response. The goal of DFIR is to investigate, contain, and remediate cyber incidents while preserving evidence and maintaining the integrity of the findings. Importance of DFIR Identifying […]

DFIR Community

The collective group of professionals and enthusiasts in Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR), a rapidly evolving field that combines forensic analysis with cybersecurity incident handling.

Dictionary Files – Mobile Device Forensics

Files generated by mobile devices over time that store learned patterns, such as autocorrect suggestions or predictive text, which can be analyzed to reveal user habits or communications.

Digital Data Collection

The extraction of digital data from devices through methods like physical extraction (full device imaging), logical extraction (file system data), or file system extraction (specific data subsets), depending on the forensic need.

Digital Device – Digital Forensics

Any electronic equipment (e.g., smartphones, computers, IoT devices) capable of storing, processing, or transmitting data, which may serve as a source of evidence in forensic investigations.

Digital Device Examination

The forensic process of recovering and analyzing evidence from a digital device, involving techniques to extract, interpret, and preserve data for investigative or legal purposes.

Digital Evidence

Information stored or transmitted in digital form (e.g., emails, files, logs, or metadata) that can be used in an investigation, subject to strict handling protocols; increasingly vital due to technology’s role in crime.

Digital Evidence Extraction

Digital evidence extraction is the process of acquiring and preserving digital data from various sources, such as computers, mobile devices, storage media, and cloud services, for use in forensic investigations. The goal is to collect digital evidence in a forensically sound manner, ensuring its admissibility in legal proceedings and maintaining the integrity of the investigation. […]

Digital Evidence Management

The systematic administration and control of digital evidence throughout its lifecycle, ensuring proper handling, storage, and documentation to maintain its integrity for legal proceedings, tools such as MSAB UNIFY allow such actions.

Digital Evidence Sharing

The secure and controlled exchange of digital evidence between investigators, agencies, or legal entities, often facilitated by standardized protocols or platforms to support collaborative casework. MSAB UNIFY Collaborate allows for this.

Digital Footprint

The trail of data left by a user’s activity across digital devices and networks, often analyzed in forensics to reconstruct events or identify individuals.

Digital Forensic Challenges

The obstacles faced in extracting, analyzing, and decoding digital evidence, such as encryption, data volume, evolving technology, and legal admissibility, which complicate forensic investigations.

Digital Forensics

A branch of forensic science focused on the recovery, analysis, and preservation of digital evidence from devices, networks, or storage media to support investigations and legal proceedings.

Digital Forensics Backlog

A bottleneck in the digital investigation workflow caused by an accumulation of unprocessed devices and large volumes of data, delaying forensic analysis and case resolution.

Digital Forensics Blog

An online platform where digital investigators share insights, case studies, techniques, and updates on tools and trends, serving as a resource for professionals in the field.

Digital Forensics Company

A specialized organization that provides expertise, tools, and services to conduct digital investigations, assisting law enforcement, businesses, or individuals in uncovering and interpreting digital evidence.

Digital Forensics Examination Tools

Software and hardware solutions (e.g., XRY, XAMN, or mobile extraction devices such as MSAB Kiosk) used by forensic examiners to collect, analyze, and preserve digital evidence in a forensically sound manner.

Digital Forensics Podcast

An audio platform that delivers discussions, interviews, and updates on digital forensics topics, empowering investigators with knowledge about techniques, tools, and industry developments. Forensic Fix from MSAB is a digital forensics podcast.

Digital Forensics Webinar

An online seminar that educates digital investigators on forensic methodologies, tools, and emerging challenges, providing interactive learning opportunities to enhance skills and knowledge.

Digital Intelligence (DI) for Digital Forensics Investigations

The use of integrated digital data and analytical tools to make evidence accessible and actionable, bridging forensic findings with broader investigative processes for more effective outcomes.

Digital Intelligence Journey

The progression an organization or individual undertakes to implement a digital intelligence strategy, addressing specific pain points and aligning with current and future investigative needs.

Digital Intelligence Organizational Capability

The collective skills, processes, and technologies within an organization that enable effective digital intelligence operations, supporting forensic investigations and data-driven decision-making.

Digital Intelligence Pillars

The foundational components of digital forensics consist of two key areas: (1) accessing and collecting digital evidence, and (2) managing and investigating cases using that evidence.

Digital Intelligence Product

Hardware or software solutions (e.g., forensic tools like XRY or XAMN) designed to enable the access, extraction, and analysis of digital data to support and resolve investigations.

Digital Intelligence Strategy

A framework that outlines how agencies assess their current capabilities and define a roadmap to enhance their digital forensic readiness, aligning tools and processes with investigative goals.

Digital Intelligence Technological Capability

The collection of existing tools, systems, and technologies (e.g., forensic workstations, mobile extraction devices) used in the field and at investigative facilities to support digital intelligence efforts.

Digital Intelligence Transformation

The process by which agencies evolve their digital intelligence readiness, adapting to modern technological developments and challenges, such as cloud data or encrypted devices, to improve investigative outcomes.

Digital Intelligence Workflow Management

The oversight and coordination of sequential tasks involving digital evidence, from collection at the investigation scene to presentation in court, ensuring efficiency and chain-of-custody integrity.

Digital Signature

A cryptographic mechanism used to verify the authenticity and integrity of digital messages or documents, frequently examined in forensic cases involving fraud or tampering.

Digital Triage

A rapid assessment process allows first responders and investigators to access, selectively extract, and analyze data from digital devices at a crime scene, prioritizing critical evidence for immediate action.

Disable Lock Screen

A forensic technique that removes the passcode requirement for unlocking a device’s screen, enabling examiners to access data more easily while maintaining evidence integrity (often used with tools like XRY and XRY Pro).

Disk Forensics

The analysis of storage devices (e.g., hard drives, SSDs) to recover evidence, including active files, deleted data, and system artifacts.

Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS)

A coordinated DoS attack from multiple sources, complicating forensic efforts to trace the origin and requiring analysis of network traffic and logs.

Dongle License – Digital Forensics

A physical USB device that serves as a software copy protection mechanism, plugged into a computer to authenticate and unlock licensed forensic software for use in investigations.

Drive Imaging

The creation of a bit-for-bit copy of a storage device, preserving all data (including slack space and unallocated areas) for forensic analysis.

Drone Forensics

Drone mobile controller forensics is a specialized branch of digital forensics that focuses on extracting and analyzing data from the mobile devices used to control unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones. As the popularity of drones increases, so does their potential for misuse in criminal activities, such as drug trafficking, smuggling, or invasion […]

Dust

In cryptocurrency forensics, “dust” refers to tiny, fractional values of a cryptocurrency unit (e.g., leftover amounts after transactions), which may be analyzed to trace financial activities or identify wallet usage patterns.

Dynamic Analysis

The examination of a program or malware by executing it in a controlled environment (e.g., a virtual machine) to observe its behavior, often used in digital forensics to understand malicious code.

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