Classifying the Authenticity of Evaluated Smartphone Data

Abstract

Advances in smartphone technology coupled with the widespread use of such devices to accomplish daily tasks create valuable sources of smartphone data. Such data becomes increasingly important when smartphones are linked to civil or criminal investigations. As with all forms of digital data, smartphone data is susceptible to change due to intentional or accidental alterations by end-users or installed applications. It is, therefore, essential to establish the authenticity of smartphone data, before submitting the data as potential evidence. Previously conducted research formulated the smartphone data evaluation model, which provides a methodological approach for evaluating the authenticity of smartphone data. However, the smartphone data evaluation model only stipulates how to evaluate smartphone data without providing a formal outcome regarding the authenticity of the data. This paper introduces a new classi cation model that presents the grade of authenticity of evaluated smartphone data, as well as the completeness of the evaluation. The outcome of a practical experiment con rms the e ective use of the classi cation model to classify the authenticity of smartphone data.