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APDU

Definition

Application Protocol Data Unit. The command and response message format used to communicate with a smart card over the ISO 7816 interface. Forensic SIM readers issue read-only APDUs (SELECT to navigate the file system, READ RECORD or READ BINARY to retrieve file content) without issuing write commands that would alter the card.

Related terms

EF_SMS
Elementary File for Short Message Service. A fixed-size record file on the SIM that stores SMS messages. Each record has a status...
ICCID
Integrated Circuit Card Identifier. The serial number of the physical SIM card itself, stored in EF_ICCID. It identifies the card as a...
IMSI
International Mobile Subscriber Identity. A 15-digit number stored in EF_IMSI on the SIM that uniquely identifies the subscriber account on the mobile...
LOCI
Location Information file (EF_LOCI on SIM, EF_LOCI and EF_EPSLOCI on USIM). Stores the Location Area Identity (LAI) last received from the network...
UICC
Universal Integrated Circuit Card. The physical hardware platform for modern SIM cards. A UICC can host multiple card applications simultaneously: a SIM...

Explained in

  • SIM Card ForensicsApplication Protocol Data Unit. The command and response message format used to communicate with a smart card over the ISO 7816 interface. Forensic SIM readers...

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