Some smartphones and tablets seized as evidence by police are being remotely wiped, according to a report by the BBC.
Police in Cambridgeshire, Cleveland, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Durham all told the corporation that such incidents had happened in their jurisdiction, while police in Dorset said it had happened six times during one year.
Many smartphones come equipped with a remote wipe feature so that personal information can be protected in the event of theft or loss, and it is a standard feature of many Mobile Device Management (MDM) platforms.
Such actions can be carried out so long as a mobile device is connected to a cellular connection, so it has been suggested that police store smartphones and tablets in such a way that they cannot receive a signal.
The Mayor of London has been a vocal advocate of a industry-standard ‘killswitch’ that would immediately deactivate a device if it is lost or stolen in a bid to deter thieves from snatching smartphones. A number of manufacturers have committed to implemented such a feature, but others fear it would leave users vulnerable to hackers with malicious intent.
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Well then maybe they should remove the SIM card before switching on the phone to search it for evidence.
This is stupid. ACPO guidelines recommend use of a Faraday bag/tent.
If the device is turned off and placed in the bag at seizure, there is zero scope for the device to wipe itself from a remote command.
Similar protections are available with examination.
Certainly,
We might have smartphones but smart cop?
:)
Although using a Faraday cage/tent or removing the SIM card might not work in the future. Any sensible criminal would have an auto erase after a period of non use without a password being entered.
On the other hand - Can't data from 'erased' SD cards be forensically recovered? Or is the erase technology of the devices a total loss of data?