MOBILE FORENSICS

Mobile artefacts – WLAN artefacts in IT forensics

Smartphones store a wealth of information about known WLAN networks and previous connections. These artefacts can provide clues as to a person’s whereabouts, places they visit regularly and their daily routines. When combined with other data sources, WLAN artefacts are among the most important components of a mobile IT forensic investigation.

Forensic analysis
Documentation admissible in court
GDPR-compliant processing
Experienced experts

OUR APPROACH

This is how your examination will be carried out

A transparent process – from the initial enquiry to the handover of the report.

1
We examine existing WLAN configurations and compare them with location data, timestamps, photographs, calendar information and other artefacts. This enables us to document technical relationships in a transparent manner and verify their plausibility.

TYPICAL QUESTIONS

When is this analysis required?

  • ✔Which WLAN networks was the smartphone connected to?
  • ✔When was the last connection to a particular network?
  • ✔Can locations be narrowed down using known WLANs?
  • ✔Do WLAN artefacts correspond with GPS or mobile phone data?
  • ✔Have any WLAN entries been deleted or amended?

LIMITATIONS & CONCLUSION

What you should know

Not every operating system stores the same information. Furthermore, networks may have been deleted, reset or removed by data protection features. WLAN artefacts should therefore never be considered in isolation.

WLAN artefacts often provide valuable insights into a smartphone’s movements. They are most informative when combined with other forensic data sources.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

Click on a question to see the answer.

Can a person’s whereabouts be determined using a WLAN network?
A known WLAN can be an important clue, but should always be assessed in conjunction with other artefacts.
Are all WLANs that have ever been used stored?
No. The scope and duration of data storage depend on the operating system, the settings and user behaviour.
Are MAC addresses relevant in a forensic context?
Yes. BSSIDs can help to identify specific access points and verify the accuracy of location data.
Can deleted WLAN entries be recovered?
Depending on the device, the extraction method and the available data, this may be possible in some cases.
Why is WLAN data compared with GPS data?
Combining data from several sources increases the reliability of the findings and reduces the risk of misinterpretation.