Introducing pattern-of-life forensics
If you have never had the opportunity to take a close look at an iOS device's pattern-of-life data, you'll likely be surprised by the amount and variety of data that is collected, stored, and processed during normal smartphone use. Typically, this data is used by the operating system to provide customized recommendations to the user, such as Siri's suggestions.
What exactly is pattern-of-life forensics? This data is all about user behavior and device usage, and it allows the investigator to answer questions such as the following:
- What has the user been using the device for?
- What have they accessed?
- Who have they communicated with?
From a forensic perspective, analyzing pattern-of-life data is extremely useful, not only to identify all activities performed on the device in a given period of time but also to build a profile of the device owner; by analyzing the data collected by iOS, the investigator will...
