When it comes to digital evidence, most investigators naturally focus on smartphones – and occasionally tablets. But the rest of the Apple ecosystem often goes unnoticed: Apple Watch, Apple TV, HomePod, even older iPod Touch models. These supplementary devices might seem irrelevant, but they can contain valuable digital artifacts: activity logs, Wi‑Fi credentials, leftover bits and pieces of information, system logs, and even synced photos.

If you’re doing forensic work today, odds are you’re imaging SSDs, not just spinning hard drives. And SSDs don’t behave like HDDs – especially when it comes to deleted files. One key reason: the TRIM command. TRIM makes SSDs behave different to magnetic hard drives when it comes to recovering deleted evidence. This article breaks down what TRIM actually does, how SSDs respond, and what forensic experts need to know when handling modern storage.

When performing forensic tasks on Apple devices, the order in which you enter device modes can make a big difference. While DFU mode is necessary for certain extractions, especially using checkm8, going straight into DFU might not be your best option. Starting with Recovery Mode offers several advantages that make it a safer, faster approach. By entering Recovery Mode first, you reduce the risk of unexpected data changes, minimize delays, and ensure the device stays in a stable state. Let’s take a closer look at why starting with Recovery Mode is the better approach for your extraction process.

In modern digital forensics, a reliable USB hub isn’t just a convenience – it’s a critical piece of lab infrastructure. With today’s laptops (especially MacBooks) offering only one or two USB-C ports – often occupied by power adapters – connecting all the required equipment becomes a real challenge. USB hubs help bridge this gap, solving port limitations, improving device compatibility, and even increasing the stability of the checkm8 exploit used for iPhone data extraction. This article explains why and where to use USB hubs shine in forensic workflows and how to choose the right model for your lab.

For a long time, the macOS version of iOS Forensic Toolkit remained the most feature-complete. Only macOS supported bootloader-level acquisition using checkm8, installation of the extraction agent with regular Apple IDs, and use of wireless adapters for Apple Watch analysis. All of these capabilities are now available in the Linux build as well, eliminating the need for a Mac in many workflows. This guide explains how to properly install and use EIFT on a Linux system.

We’ve released an important update to iOS Forensic Toolkit: the Toolkit expands logical acquisition to all newer models of Apple Watch starting from Apple Watch Series 6 (with a wired third-party adapter), Apple Watch Series 7 through 10, SE2, Ultra, and Ultra 2 (via a special wireless adapter). With this update, the Toolkit supports the complete range of Apple Watch devices with no gaps or omissions.

We are excited to announce an update to Elcomsoft iOS Forensic Toolkit that solves a long-lasting issue connected to the installation and use of the low-level extraction agent. In version 8.70, we introduce a critical improvement: you can now sideload and launch the extraction agent completely offline using any Apple Developer account – regardless of when it was created. What exactly changed, and what does that mean for you? Read along to find out.

The Windows 11 24H2 update introduced a change in Microsoft’s approach to disk encryption, a shift that will have long lasting implications on digital forensics. In this release, BitLocker encryption is automatically enabled on most modern hardware when installing Windows when a Microsoft Account (MSA) is used during setup. Encryption starts seamlessly and silently in the background, covering even Home editions and consumer devices such as desktop computers that historically escaped full-disk encryption defaults.

With the release of iOS 17.3, Apple introduced a new security feature called “Stolen Device Protection.” This functionality is designed to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data in cases where a thief has gained knowledge of an iPhone’s passcode. While this feature significantly enhances security for end users, it simultaneously creates substantial obstacles for digital forensic experts, complicating lawful data extraction.

Welcome to the world of mobile forensics, where extracting data is the first (and arguably the most critical) step. Whether you’re working with an ancient Apple device or attempting to break into the latest iPhone 16 Pro Max, there is a method for every gadget – each with its own share of challenges. We love explaining the differences between the extraction techniques, detailing their pros and contras, but sometimes you are limited to the one and only method that is the most likely to succeed.