iOS Forensics: How Can We Recover Deleted Image Files with Timestamp in a Forensically Sound Manner?

Abstract

IOS devices generally allow users to synch their images (pictures) and video files using iTunes between Apple products (e.g. an iPhone and a Mac Book Pro). Recovering deleted images, particularly in a forensically sound manner, from iOS devices can be an expensive and challenging exercise (due to the hierarchical encrypted file system, etc). In this paper, we propose an operational technique that allows digital forensic practitioners to recover deleted image files by referring to iOS journaling file system. Using an iPhone as a case study, we then conduct a forensic analysis to validate our proposed technique.