Faraday Isolation
Definition
Shielding a mobile device from radio frequency signals (cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS) using a Faraday bag or cage, preventing network connections that could alter data or trigger a remote wipe during seizure and transport.
- Function
- Shields a mobile device from cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS
- Purpose
- Prevents network-triggered data alteration or remote wipe
- Equipment
- Faraday bag or Faraday cage/chamber
- Timing
- Applied at seizure, maintained through transport
Common questions
How is Faraday isolation different from simply turning the phone off?+
Powering a device off can trigger encryption lockouts or lose volatile data such as an unlocked state, open apps, or RAM contents. Faraday isolation keeps the device powered and usable for forensic capture while still cutting it off from any network that could alter or wipe its data.
What has to be verified before relying on a Faraday bag or cage?+
The enclosure's shielding effectiveness has to be checked against the frequencies in use, since a degraded bag, a poor seal, or a chamber door left open can let a signal through; agencies periodically test enclosures with a phone and a call or ping attempt to confirm they still block connectivity.
Related terms
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- Packet Capture (PCAP)
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- Physical Acquisition
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- Write Blocker
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