Article
Digital Forensic Investigation of Two-Way Radio Communication Equipment and Services
Contribution Summary
This study addresses the lack of research on digital traces in modern two-way radio communication equipment and services, which is critical for law enforcement in crime investigations. The authors propose a novel workflow for investigators to follow when encountering such equipment, emphasizing the importance of understanding radio communication equipment, infrastructure, and associated services. The study highlights the need for digital forensic tools to acquire forensically interesting data from radio communication equipment, and suggests that API possibilities, JTAG, and chip-offs should be researched and developed to access these devices.
Keywords: Digital Forensic Traces; Two-Way Radio Communication Equipment; Law Enforcement Investigations; Radio Communication Infrastructure; Digital Forensic Tools; API Possibilities; JTAG; Chip-Offs
Abstract
Historically, radio-equipment has solely been used as a two-way analogue communication device. Today, the use of radio communication equipment is increasing by numerous organisations and businesses. The functionality of these traditionally short-range devices have expanded to include private call, address book, call-logs, text messages, lone worker, telemetry, data communication, and GPS. Many of these devices also integrate with smartphones, which delivers Push-To-Talk services that make it possible to setup connections between users using a two-way radio and a smartphone. In fact, these devices can be used to connect users only using smartphones. To date, there is little research on the digital traces in modern radio communication equipment. In fact, increasing the knowledge base about these radio communication devices and services can be valuable to law enforcement in a police investigation. In this paper, we investigate what kind of radio communication equipment and services law enforcement digital investigators can encounter at a crime scene or in an investigation. Subsequent to seizure of this radio communication equipment we explore the traces, which may have a forensic interest and how these traces can be acquired. Finally, we test our approach on sample radio communication equipment and services.
BibTeX
@article{kouwen2018radioforensics,
author={Kouwen, Arie and Scanlon, Mark and Choo, Kim-Kwang Raymond and Le-Khac, Nhien-An},
title="{Digital Forensic Investigation of Two-Way Radio Communication Equipment and Services}",
journal="{Digital Investigation}",
year=2018,
month=07,
volume="26S",
number="1",
pages="xx-xx",
publisher={Elsevier},
abstract="Historically, radio-equipment has solely been used as a two-way analogue communication device. Today, the use of radio communication equipment is increasing by numerous organisations and businesses. The functionality of these traditionally short-range devices have expanded to include private call, address book, call-logs, text messages, lone worker, telemetry, data communication, and GPS. Many of these devices also integrate with smartphones, which delivers Push-To-Talk services that make it possible to setup connections between users using a two-way radio and a smartphone. In fact, these devices can be used to connect users only using smartphones. To date, there is little research on the digital traces in modern radio communication equipment. In fact, increasing the knowledge base about these radio communication devices and services can be valuable to law enforcement in a police investigation. In this paper, we investigate what kind of radio communication equipment and services law enforcement digital investigators can encounter at a crime scene or in an investigation. Subsequent to seizure of this radio communication equipment we explore the traces, which may have a forensic interest and how these traces can be acquired. Finally, we test our approach on sample radio communication equipment and services."
}