Chip-Off Forensics

   After the mobile phones are stripped to just the circuit boards, the flash memory chips need to be identified. Someone unfamiliar with flash memory chips or components of a circuit board will not easily know which piece is the memory chip. Clues like manufacturer names or logos help identify the chip. Additionally, resources such as www.iFixit.com sometimes provide details regarding a phone’s PCB that outline the various components including the flash memory chip. The model number for the chip should be determined and it must be ensured that there is access to compatible chip programmers and adapters.