In a new article, NIST researcher Jenise Reyes-Rodriquez shares an inside look at her work testing mobile forensic software tools. She and her team explore the validity of different methods for extracting data from mobile devices, even from damaged phones. Researchers subject a wide array of digital forensic tools to rigorous and systematic evaluation, determining how accurately it retrieves crucial information from the device.

She explains that unlike what you might see on television, forensic labs are often working with limited budgets and may not have access to multiple tools. They typically need to work with what they already have or can afford. Reyes-Rodriquez and her research team test these mobile tools on the most popular devices on the market and create reports for labs listing any anomalies such as incomplete text messages or contact names. These reports help labs know if the tool they have is appropriate to use in their case, and provides a guide on alternative options or an ideal tool to buy.

This research was funded by NIST and the Department of Homeland Security’s Cyber Forensics Project. Read the full story on the NIST website, and learn more about the research group’s work on the CFTT website. Here you can also access NIST’s testing methodology and forensic tool testing reports.