Physical forensic acquisition and pattern unlock on android smart phones

Abstract

Since the Android operating system was released by Google in 2007, it has developed to the top smart phone sales around the world. Meanwhile, Android has also designed many measures of security protection for the users, and the pattern lock is one of the most popular ways on Android smart phones. However, this kind of function may be seen as a protection way to criminals. Therefore, there comes the need of physical acquisition and unlocking the pattern lock on Android devices for digital forensics. This research is based on the process of mobile forensics provided by National Institute of Standards and Technology, which is designed for physical acquisition, images making and pattern unlock when the Android smart phones are under the pattern lock. The evidence and images can be analyzed through computers and it can increase the capability of restoring the deleted data, and the unlocked mobile can be used to do logical acquisition. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.