Android and Wireless data-extraction using Wi-Fi

TL;DR

This paper explores the feasibility of extracting data from Android smartphones via Wi-Fi as an alternative to traditional USB methods, providing experimental insights and recommendations for forensic data retrieval.

Contribution

It introduces a method for wireless data extraction from Android devices and evaluates suitable applications and protocols for forensic purposes.

Findings

Wi-Fi can be used for data extraction from Android phones

Certain applications and protocols are more effective for forensic data retrieval

Wireless extraction offers a viable alternative when USB access is unavailable

Abstract

Today, mobile phones are very popular, fast growing technology. Mobile phones of the present day are more and more like small computers. The so-called "smartphones" contain a wealth of information each. This information has been proven to be very useful in crime investigations, because relevant evidence can be found in data retrieved from mobile phones used by criminals. In traditional methods, the data from mobile phones can be extracted using an USB-cable. However, for some reason this USB-cable connection cannot be made, the data should be extracted in an alternative way. In this paper, we study the possibility of extracting data from mobile devices using a Wi-Fi connection. We describe our approach on mobile devices containing the Android Operating System. Through our experiments, we also give recommendation on which application and protocol can be used best to retrieve data.