#EncroChat Know How : How Authorities are extracting information from cellphones ?
- The DigitalBank Vault
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
Cellebrite’s Universal Forensic Extraction Device (UFED) has become the go-to tool for law enforcement agencies seeking to harvest data from locked smartphones without the user’s consent.
At its core, UFED combines specialized hardware—ranging from the touchscreen “Touch” units to rack-mounted reader pods—with powerful software like Physical Analyzer to execute multiple extraction methods, from logical and file-system pulls to full physical dumps.
Under the hood, UFED can bypass lock-screen security through one-time unlock exploits, custom bootloaders that evade OEM protections, Qualcomm EDL (Emergency Download) modes, and even hardware-assisted brute-force attacks that systematically try PINs or passcodes.
While designed to aid criminal investigations, Cellebrite’s tools have sparked controversies worldwide—reports of secretive training videos urging governments to conceal UFED usage, documented misuse by Serbian authorities against activists, and Amnesty International’s call to halt product deployments in certain regions all underscore the ethical challenges of unregulated mobile forensics.
Understanding Cellebrite’s UFED Suite
Cellebrite UFED is marketed as a universal forensics extraction device, sold in hardware packages that connect directly to smartphones and tablets. Its companion software, Physical Analyzer, provides the interface for parsing raw dumps into human-readable data—messages, contacts, app databases, and more. Together, these components let examiners choose from a spectrum of extraction modes depending on device model, OS version, and available vulnerabilities.
Technical Underpinnings
Extraction Modalities
Logical & File-System ExtractionUFED’s logical extraction uses OEM-provided APIs to pull visible user data—SMS, call logs, photos—directly from the file system without altering device state. Advanced logical extraction extends this by tapping into deeper system files and app databases where possible.
Physical ExtractionFor a bit-for-bit clone of device memory, UFED employs custom bootloaders or hardware interfaces to bypass manufacturer locks and dump flash memory directly. This yields deleted or hidden artifacts that logical pulls miss.
EDL-Mode (Qualcomm Emergency Download)On supported Qualcomm-based devices, UFED leverages EDL to access raw flash storage—either with decryption (if keys are recovered) or in a non-decrypting mode for later offline analysis.
Brute-Force & Passcode RecoveryFor PINs and patterns, UFED can execute automated guessing attacks from 0000–9999, pausing to avoid wipe counters, or use hardware-level bypasses to reset lock-screen mechanisms.
One-Time Lock-Screen Bypass
Some devices support a “Bypass Lock Screen” feature that temporarily unlocks the screen once—enough to initiate a logical or file-system extraction—without resetting user credentials.
Typical Forensic Workflow
Seizure & Isolation: Devices are placed in Faraday bags or otherwise cut off from networks to prevent remote wipes.
Extraction Selection: Examiner chooses the optimal method—logical, file-system, physical, or EDL—based on device support and evidentiary needs.
Data Acquisition: UFED hardware executes the selected exploit or interface, dumping data to a connected PC.
Analysis & Reporting: Physical Analyzer decodes raw data into timelines, communications graphs, geolocation maps, and generates standardized reports.
Controversies & Ethical Concerns: #EncroChat Know How . How Authorities are extracting information from cellphones ?
Secretive Usage Policies
Leaked training materials reveal Cellebrite instructs customers to keep both its technology and the fact that they used it under wraps, compromising judicial transparency and the right to fair process.
Documented Misuse
Serbia (2025): Following an Amnesty International report detailing unlawful targeting of activists and journalists, Cellebrite suspended equipment use in Serbia amid evidence of extra-legal data extractions.
Bahrain (2019): Privacy International uncovered that asylum seekers faced invasive interrogations using Cellebrite’s tools to extract private conversations under duress.
COVID-19 Contact Tracing (2020): Cellebrite pitched its capabilities to Israeli authorities for quarantining individuals by pulling location and contact data—raising fresh privacy alarms.
Software Vulnerabilities
In April 2021, Signal’s creator Moxie Marlinspike demonstrated critical flaws in UFED and Physical Analyzer—arbitrary code execution, outdated FFmpeg libraries, and embedded Apple installer packages—that cast doubt on data integrity and supply-chain security.
Safeguards & the Road Ahead
The expanding reach of mobile forensics tools like UFED demands stricter export controls, mandatory usage logs, and independent audits to prevent abuse. As smartphone security improves—secure enclaves, stronger sandboxing, and rapid patch cycles—vendors and law enforcement must adapt ethical frameworks to balance investigative needs with fundamental privacy rights.
Cellebrite’s UFED suite remains a powerful ally for lawful investigations but its secretive protocols and documented misuses underscore a pressing need for transparent governance and robust oversight in the digital-forensics arena.
