Forensic Sciences


Chip-Off Technique in Mobile Forensics

Article Number: PJO451075 Volume 05 | Issue 01 | April - 2022 ISSN: 2581-4273
13th Dec, 2021
19th Feb, 2022
18th Mar, 2022
13th Apr, 2022

Authors

Vikas Razdan

Abstract

In the era of digital age, one in every of the foremost important new areas of forensics is mobile forensics, specifically the power to extract valuable information in the form of data using automated techniques from mobile devices that have suffered physical damage and are totally non-functional. Digital forensic methodologies involve various techniques of obtaining data from smartphones which are as follows Joint Test Action Group technique. logical extraction, backup extraction, filing system extraction, , Serial Peripheral Interface technique, when all such methods fail CHIP-OFF is the only technique which include chip extraction and reading data from it. CHIP-OFF FORENSICS may be successful for the smart phone devices that have received waterlogged and fire damage. In chip-off thermal based technique is used to physically remove the microchip from the smart device and this methodology is employed when other techniques as mentioned above fail. In such cases it's mandatory to unsolder the NAND non-volatile storage chip, as it contains all the valuable user data. In most of the cases the NAND chip remains fully functioning. There's vast sort of packages of contemporary NAND chips exist (TSOP48, TLGA52, BGA100, BGA152, etc.). In order to read physical image of information out of chip it's necessary to settle on appropriate smartphone adapter and browse physical image (dump) to a file using various forensic software's, at the tip of process when physical image is converted to logical image, it's a time for further forensic analysis. Keywords: Mobile Forensics, NAND memory chip, Rework Station Data Extraction, Smartphone, Kit Adapters.

Introduction

Chip-off technology is an advanced data extraction and analysis technique which involves substantially removing chip from a theme device using specialized equipment and then acquiring the data. Chip Off technique can be used for smartphones and other digital devices that hold data using flash memory technology (Digital Forensic Corp, 2018). The Chip-off system is relatively successful on devices that have sustained physical damage and aren't functional. Chip-off is an invasive forensic acquisition which needs specialized technical tools and experts to soundly remove the chips, produce forensic images of their contents, and duly realign their contents into coherent data. Taking out the chip from the device needs microscope precision skills, making any small mistakes will result in losing all data permanently. After removing the chip connection with the system is done with the help of smartphone kit adapters.

Chip unsoldering is the most significant part of the chip-off process. The chip mustn’t be overheated as it will delete all data. It's recommended to use the rebuilt station. Even the best-rebuilt station with an automatic temperature regulator allows unsoldering chips with safety. To extract a chip it's recommended heating it to 240 °C then use a blade to extract it from a smartphone board. NAND non-volatile storage is found on the retrieved circuit board, using appropriate heat and chemicals, the microchip is physically taken out. The chip which is physically removed is cleaned and the forensic image/dump of the chip is then acquired by using various imaging softwares like Oxygen Forensics, XRY, Belkasoft, Magnet Forensics, Autopsy and using desired smart phone kit adapter it's connected to the PC. With the help of available software's, in-depth analysis is carried out and valuable artifacts from the Chip are retrieved (www.ilearncana.com; indianexpress.com).

Objectives

To retrieve and extract the data stored from the smart phones and other digital devices that hold data and have suffered physical damage and are completely non-functional.

References

“Chip-Off Digital Forensics Services | NAND Recovery Services.” Gillware, Accessed on 10 December 2021, Accessed from www.gillware.com/phone-data-recovery-services/chip-off-forensics-services.

“Chip-off Technique in Mobile Forensics | Digital Forensics | Computer Forensics | Blog.” Digital Forensic Corp, 9 Apr. 2018, Accessed on 10 December 2021, Accessed from www.digitalforensics.com/blog/chip-off-technique-in-mobile-forensics.

“Chip-off Technique.” iLearnCANA, Accessed on 17 December 2021, Accessed from www.ilearncana.com/details/Chip-off-technique/2208.

“Differences in advance data extraction methods from the mobile phone | LIGS University.” ligsuniversity.com, Accessed on 10 December 2021, Accessed from www.ligsuniversity.com/en/blogpost/differences-in-advance-data-extraction-methods-from-the-mobile-phone.

Data, S. “[Case Study] Chip-Off Forensics: How to extract data from Damaged Mobile Devices.” Salvation DATA Blog, 30 Apr. 2021, Accessed on 01 March 2022, Accessed from blog.salvationdata.com/2018/04/04/case-study-chip-off-forensics-how-to-extract-data-from-damaged-mobile-devices.

Ence, Choli, and Gary Cantrell. “Chip-off Success Rate Analysis Comparing Temperature and Chip Type.” The Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law, 2018. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.15394/jdfsl.2018.1545.

Parashar, Saurabh. “Scientists Develop Indigenous ‘Chip-Off’ Technique to Retrieve Encrypted Data.” The Indian Express, 4 June 2021, Accessed on 09 December 2021, Accessed from indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/scientists-develop-indigenous-chip-off-technique-to-retrieve-encrypted-data-7343297.

Ultra Tec Manufacturing. “Chip-Off for Digital Forensics.” ULTRA TEC Manufacturing, Inc., 8 July 2020, Accessed on 10 December 2021, Accessed from www.ultratecusa.com/chip-off-for-digital-forensics.

How to cite this article?

APA StyleGanesh, N., Patel, D. D., Patel, D. P., & Kanojia, D. S. (2022). Reformation in Legal System and Governance to Curb Cyber Terrorism. Academic Journal of Forensic Sciences, 5(1), 8–11.
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