Forensic Analysis of Health and Fitness Applications on Android

Abstract

The field of computer forensics focuses on retrieving, analyzing, and presenting computer-based data to be used as evidence in legal proceedings. With the proliferation of digital evidence in civil litigation, legal systems worldwide have adapted to accommodate these new forms of evidence. This research delves into the forensic analysis of health and fitness applications on Android devices, which are now critical targets for forensic investigations due to the sensitive data they store, such as contacts, messages, images, and location information. Given the widespread use of over 250,000 health and fitness applications, there is an urgent need to evaluate their security and privacy measures. The objective of this study is to identify the potential forensic artifacts available within these applications and assess their implications for user privacy and security. By employing rigorous forensic methodologies, we analyze various popular health and fitness apps to understand how securely they store user data and how this data can be extracted and utilized in forensic investigations. Our findings highlight the importance of choosing secure applications that protect user privacy, a crucial consideration for users and developers alike.