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Abstract- Smart cards are fundamental technology in modern life. It is embedded in numerous devices such as GPS devices, ATM cards, Mobile SIM cards and many others. Mobile devices became the evolution of technology. It becomes smaller, faster and supports large storage capabilities. Digital forensics of mobile devices that maybe found in crime scene is becoming inevitable. The purpose of this research is to address the SIM cards digital forensics analysis. It presents sound forensic methodology and process of SIM cards forensic examination. In particular, the main aim of the research is to answer the following research questions: (1) what forensic evidence could be extracted from a SIM card and (2) what are limitations that may hinder a forensic analysis?
Keywords: SIM Cards; Smart Cards; Mobile Digital Forensics; SIM Card Forensics;
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1. Introduction
Mobile forensics has become a rapidly important forensic domain, since mobile phones have become a common source of digital evidence. Nowadays, smart phones, tablets, and smart cards contains a large information storage with increasing capabilities [1] which provides an extensive source of information that could leverage forensic analysis and investigation.
Unfortunately, it's a common knowledge that criminals don't prefer using smart phones, because it can easily be tracked using different methods. As such, they may prefer to use prepaid phones known as "burner phone" or simple non-smart phones. Although, recent reports that Law Enforcement are confronted with criminals and terrorists that are increasingly using different smart phone models and Law Enforcement are facing difficulties decrypting digital evidence residual in those phone without the phone manufacturing support. This doesn't mean that forensic analysis of non-smart phone is an obsolete domain. In fact, SIM cards forensic is a fundamental activity in any mobile phone forensics, and law Enforcement are regularly in a situation where it is required to extract basic information from a phone SIM card.
The existing techniques, methods, software (including commercial or open source) in mobile phone forensics are focusing on the analysis of smart phones. For example, extracting artifacts of applications installed on the mobile operating system, i.e. Android or IOS; however very limited research addressing the forensic analysis of Mobile phone hardware or SIM card. In particular, SIM card forensics is disclosed forensic...