Framework for forensic analysis of evidence from navigation devices powered by android operating system.

Abstract

The use of hand-held. dedicated GPS- (Global positioning system) devices for navigation such as Garmin, Tom-Tom, Mio Technology, Navman, and Magellan has been reducing while the use of Smartphones as navigation devices has increased where by the navigation application system has been integrated into the Smartphone itself. Conducting GPS routing using a smartphone phone is convenient as there would be no need to have another device for GPS navigation devices. The use of this technology is associated with certain crimes, forensic analysis of android navigation devices (android smartphone) is necessary. This study aimed at developing a framework for forensic analysis of forensic data originating from android navigation devices. A descriptive field study using a questionnaire was carried out to find out constructs important for the design of a framework for forensic analysis of android navigation devices. The designed framework was evaluated in a questionnaire based field study and the results showed that; the use of' logical technique for data extraction of data as is easy to understand and work with allowing innovation and facilitates direct communication with operating system of the device, analysis of mapping application dataset complemented with operating system dataset gains additional information and also improve on the accuracy of information gained and reconstruction of traces of geo-data like last selected destination and home location coupled. with timestamps such as start time of the journey and end time of the journey can be used for reconstruction of the motion of the android navigation device user to enable a digital forensic expert to discern between locations only searched for and locations traveled to by the android navigation device user.