Overview of mobile operating systems 

One of the major factors in the data acquisition and examination/analysis of a mobile phone is the operating system. From low-end mobile phones to smartphones, mobile operating systems have come a long way with a lot of features. Mobile operating systems directly affect how the examiner can access the mobile device. For example, Android OS gives terminal-level access whereas iOS does not give such an option. A comprehensive understanding of the mobile platform helps the forensic examiner make sound forensic decisions and conduct a conclusive investigation. While there is a large range of smart mobile devices, with the demise of Blackberry, currently two main operating systems dominate the market, namely Google Android and Apple iOS (followed by Windows Phone at a distant third). More information can be found at: https://www.idc.com/promo/smartphone-market-share/os. This book covers forensic analysis of these three mobile platforms. We will provide a brief overview of the leading mobile operating systems.