Infotainment system Forensics: Ford SYNC 3 gen 2 infotainment system as a use case

Abstract

The digital era is ushering in the next generation of motor vehicles supported by dozens of dispersed electronic control units (ECUs) communicating with each other over controller area networks (e.g., CAN bus). Each ECU is responsible for a specific set of functions. For example, built-in cellular modems, typically part of the telecommunication control unit (TCU), are used to call first responders when a crash is detected, but also surreptitiously send back vehicle telematics, and enable convenient features such as remote unlock/lock, remote start, and log the GPS position of the automobile into the cloud. Potentially, every input by the driver is logged and recorded within these ECUs. Indeed, modern automobiles are inadvertently equipped with proverbial black boxes. As a result, a new subdivision of digital forensics to extract and analyze this black box data is emerging. Smart vehicle forensics, also known as digital vehicle forensics (DVF), enables investigators to examine data produced by and stored inside automobiles. The infotainment system typically holds the most valuable data because it contains GPS tracklogs, artifacts left behind from paired mobile devices, and receives data from many other modules within the automobile. Therefore, DVF primarily focuses on the automobiles infotainment system, and specializes in extracting and analyzing stored electronic data. Law enforcement is increasingly becoming aware and making use of this new source of data. It is only a matter of time and budget before DVF investigations become routine and common practice.