Cheaters Get Caught When the iPhone Photo is More Than Just a Photo
Computers & Technology → Technology
- Author Trent Walton
- Published October 12, 2023
- Word count 687
A Single Second Exposed…to the World?
Imagine this scenario. A woman’s boyfriend is traveling and sends her a photo from his iPhone of a hotel bed with a cuddly toy by the pillow and says he misses her. Sweet, right?
Not so, when the woman clicks on the “live” version of the photo. That version shows a brief second of another woman falling on his bed and laughing.
Is this a hypothetical situation? No, it actually happened earlier this year, according to this article from The Sun. Even worse for the boyfriend is the fact that the girlfriend he cheated on is a Tiktok influencer. Now everybody knows! A single second exposed his cheating to the girlfriend – and to the world!
What are Live Photos?
Live Photos are actually two files: 1) a still image, and 2) a 3 second video with sound. With Live Photos, your iPhone records what happens 1.5 seconds before and after you take a picture. Pressing your finger on a Live Photo makes it come to life, with the full audio captured for those 3 seconds. They can be viewed on iOS devices and Mac computers within the Photos app.
Apple introduced Live Photos with iPhone 6s and iOS version 9, so most iPhone users today have the ability to take Live Photos and many are doing so without even realizing it. The Live Photos setting is on by default, so many people don’t realize (or they forget) that the picture they are taking is accompanied by that 3 second video.
As for the still image, it is also typically unique when compared to traditional image formats. For iPhone 7 and above, the default image format is to take high-efficiency HEIC/HEVC pictures and videos. With that setting on, Live Photos are saved with an .HEIC picture but still retain a .mov file for the video portion. If you have an iPhone, you can check your setting here: Settings/Camera/Formats, to see if High Efficiency is set.
How to Identify Live Photos
There are two potential indicators of Live Photos on an iOS device. The first is that there will be two files with the same filename, but a different file type. So, a Live Photo could be represented by a .HEIC file (e.g., IMG_1208.HEIC) and also a .MOV file (e.g., IMG_1208.MOV). Normally, iOS saves pictures and videos in sequence, so the fact that two files have the same filename is an indicator that they comprise a Live Photo.
Finding all of those, however, can be very time consuming. Another way to find them (using a forensics application like Cellebrite Inspector) is to locate the universally unique identifier (UUID) within both members of the Live Photo. The UUID within Live Photos contains five sets of letters and numbers separated by dashes. The first set contains eight letters and numbers, the next three include four letters and numbers each, and the last set consists of twelve letters and numbers. Here’s an example of what the UUID can look like:
7RC7QEK1-6C5E-R84E-6WEF-RC75E7JR9L7Y
While searching for the UUIDs that identify Live Photo files within the collection may seem complex, it can be easily accomplished with a regular expression search looking for that pattern within the /mobile/Media/DCIM/ folder path (where pictures and videos are normally stored on the device). An experienced forensics specialist using a tool like Cellebrite Inspector can find the pictures and videos that comprise Live Photos with ease.
Conclusion
When self-collecting from iOS devices, many people don’t realize that collection of each photo actually entails collection of two files – not just the photo itself, but also the 3-second video that accompanies it. Certainly, many custodians don’t realize (or forget) that Live Photos exist, as evidenced by the example of the boyfriend above (or he wouldn’t have sent the “photo” that turned out to expose his cheating).
Discovery of Live Photos requires forensic expertise and an ability to link the photo and video together. A single second can literally expose the truth when it comes to mobile device discovery!
For more information about Forensic Discovery’s Mobile Phone Forensics services, read here: https://forensicdiscovery.expert/cheaters-get-caught-when-the-iphone-photo-is-more-than-just-a-photo/
Article source: https://articlebiz.comRate article
Article comments
There are no posted comments.
Related articles
- How EasyPDF™ Forms Save Time & Money at Home and in the Workplace
- The One and Only 15-Second Digital Lien Waiver to Complete and Submit in Record Time Using the Free Adobe Reader
- Augmented Reality (AR) in Business: Why Your Company Needs It
- Top 10 Reasons to Use Business Central’s License Plating App
- App Development: Transforming Ideas into Reality
- Eight Free Business Central Apps That You’ll Wish You Had
- Exploiting Artificial Intelligence for Urban Mobility Transformation: A Case Study of Guatemala City
- Top 10 Ways Business Central Users Streamline Shipping
- The Impact of AI on Job Security and Availability in Africa: A Future at a Crossroads
- CNC Machining Vs 3D Printing: Which Technology Is Right For Your Project?
- The Future of Search: Embracing AI-Powered Search Solutions
- Low-Fidelity Vs High-Fidelity Prototypes: When To Use Each In Product Design
- MARKET SEGMENTATION
- Securing Data in the Cloud: Best Practices for the Oil and Gas Industry
- Key DevOps Practices: CI, CD, IaC, and Monitoring
- 10 Tips to Streamline Warehouse Operations with Business Central
- AI Admissions: Fair Selection or Digital Bias?
- How to Select the Best IT Recruitment Agency from Europe to Build Your Tech Team
- Evolution of the translation profession in the 21st century
- The Benefits of Open Source in Gaming and the Games It Made Possible
- Business Central Data Transfer: 10 Tips
- What Is a DC Contactor? Definition and Working Principle Explained
- Is an iPhone Worth Buying in 2024: A Comprehensive Guide
- Digital Advocacy: Myth or Future
- Best Tips for Manual Mobile App Testing to Quality App Development
- Web Developer Jobs: How to Find and Key Competencies in 2024
- The Future of Event Experiences
- Top 10 Ways to Maximize Your Job Shop Efficiency with Business Central
- Elevate Engagement: Implementing WordPress Live Chat Support
- Top 10 Ways to Improve Production Scheduling in Business Central