What we do

• Secure collection and delivery of exhibits - where required
• Auditable secure receipting facility for phones delivered in person
• SIM analysis
• Automated forensic data extraction
• Advanced forensic data extraction (where not supported by standard forensic tools)
• Extraction of deleted data (handset and memory card)
• Free intelligence analysis tool (FLARE) with all phone extractions
• Reporting in whatever form works best for the client
• Court appearances – where required
• Adhere to forensic regulator and ACPO guidelines
• Pushing the boundaries of evidential opportunities
• Rapid turnaround – where required
• Keep costs down.

How we do it

• By agreeing a strategy for each case with the OIC
• By discussing the desired outcome
• By using innovative in-house techniques as well as standard tools
• By drawing on the combined expertise of more than 20 analysts
• By following ISO9001, ISO27001 and ISO17025
• By security screening all staff
• By providing staff with extensive courtroom training
• By dedicating a team purely to research and development.

From which devices

The following is a non-exhaustive list of the mobile devices from which CCL-Forensics can typically extract media. If a particular device is not on this list, please contact us on 01789 261200 or email info@ccl-forensics.com.

• Smartphones running Android, Blackberry iOs, Symbian, Windows Mobile and other platforms
• “Standard” phones / feature phones
• Memory cards
• WiFi/VoIP handsets
• Satellite phones
• Personal digital assistants (PDA) and electronic organisers
• 3G internet dongles
• Landline/DECT phones
• Tablet PCs which contain SIM cards
• Fax machines
• SIM/USIM cards
• Biohazard / contaminated phones
• Fingerprint preservation
• Overseas imports/copies of smartphones and “normal” phones
• Damaged handsets
• Built-in vehicle phones
• Mobile phone data on PC.

In more detail

The term “smartphone” was originally coined to differentiate more complex handsets from their less feature-packed counterparts.

It will come as no surprise to anyone in the law enforcement sector that, while there are still many simple phones requiring forensic analysis, the smartphone is beginning to make its presence felt in high-tech crime units. In fact, due to an increase in phones with capabilities like sat nav, internet, social networking, geo-tagging and the like, most handsets can now be considered smart.

This poses challenges and opportunities, as the handsets contain more data, but it is data which can prove more difficult to extract. 
CCL-Forensics, therefore offers a number of services to Law Enforcement bodies with regard to mobile phones:

• Free advice – CCL-Forensics has an R&D team constantly working on new ways to extract more data from more devices – including deleted information. They are only too happy to offer their thoughts and insight, especially into more complex phones. Law enforcement bodies benefit twice from this: firstly, because they are not charged for our R&D activity and secondly, because this research ultimately reduces the time taken for analysis, so this cost saving is passed on.
• Fixed price for a fixed scope – this ensures costs do not escalate, and you will not incur any unexpected charges.
• Deleted data where possible – we recognise that this is the “holy grail” of digital forensics and will provide deleted data where possible. Specific research projects can be undertaken for cases where deleted data is not automatically extracted, but is crucial to a case.
• Free intelligence analysis tool – with every phone analysed, CCL-Forensics can provide the phone data for viewing in its new FLARE viewing platform – free of charge.
• Extraction from “simple” phones – CCL-Forensics uses a wide range of forensic tools and techniques (including a number developed in-house and calibrated under ISO17025) to provide a tailored, cost-effective service to police. This can be on an ad-hoc basis, during times of peak demand or under regular contract.
• Extraction from complex/smartphones – as part of our commitment to law enforcement, CCL-Forensics has invested heavily in research into new and complex phones. If a particular phone is not supported by standard forensic tools, we will develop techniques to extract as much data as possible. The cost of this research is NOT passed onto the customer – you pay only for the analysis regardless of the technique used.