IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity)
Definition
A unique 15-digit number permanently assigned to a mobile device's hardware. Used by networks to identify and block stolen devices, and by investigators to link call records, cell tower logs, and data from multiple sources to a specific handset.
Related terms
- Cell Site Analysis
- The use of records from mobile network operators showing which cell towers a device connected to and when, allowing investigators to establish...
- Chain of Custody
- The documented chronological record of who collected, handled, transferred, and examined a piece of evidence. For digital evidence, chain of custody includes...
- Electrolytic Etching
- Electrochemical alternative to chemical etchants. The part is the anode in an electrolyte bath; controlled current selectively dissolves the strained metal at...
- Fry's Reagent
- Classical etchant for plain carbon and low-alloy steel: 40 g cupric chloride (CuCl2) + 90 mL concentrated HCl + 100 mL water....
- Logical Acquisition
- An extraction method that uses the device's own operating system interfaces, such as iTunes backup or Android Debug Bridge, to export the...
- Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI)
- A non-destructive testing method that reveals magnetic-domain contrast between cold-worked and unstressed zones in ferromagnetic metals using a ferrofluid under UV illumination;...
- Obliteration
- Covering of existing writing with an opaque layer (ink, correction fluid, or correction tape) so that the underlying text is invisible in...
- Packet Capture (PCAP)
- The interception and recording of network packets as they traverse an interface. The raw data is stored in PCAP format and analysed...
- Physical Acquisition
- An extraction method that reads the raw flash storage of a mobile device, bypassing the operating system. Produces a bit-for-bit image of...
- Stamping Depth
- The depth to which the original punch deformed the metal grain. Typically two to three times the visible indentation depth. Restoration works...
Explained in these topics
- Mobile and Network Forensics: Scope and DisciplineA unique 15-digit number permanently assigned to a mobile device's hardware. Used by networks to identify and block stolen devices, and by investigators to lin...
- Serial Number and Erased Mark RestorationFifteen-digit identifier stamped or laser-engraved on a mobile phone's chassis. Restoration on phones is harder than on firearms because the substrate is often...