Mobile Forensics & Malware Analysis Guide: ADB Extraction, Sysdiagnose & IOC Hunting

Modern mobile surveillance software, stalkerware, and commercial exploit kits (e.g. Pegasus, Predator) operate stealthily within sandboxed environments. Identifying sophisticated mobile compromises requires rigorous forensic triage combining Android Debug Bridge (ADB) logical dumps, iOS Sysdiagnose log carving, and outbound Command & Control (C2) network analysis.

Mobile Forensics & Spyware Detection Pipeline — Fig 1: 3-Stage Mobile Forensic Triage: Android ADB Extraction, iOS MVT Verification & Network C2 Analysis.

1. Android ADB Logical Acquisition & Permission Auditing

On Android devices, initial triage begins via the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) over a secure USB connection to inspect running packages, accessibility hooks, and battery wakelocks:

# Extract installed 3rd-party packages and sideloaded APK paths
adb shell pm list packages -3 -f

# Audit active Accessibility Services (frequent stalkerware vector)
adb shell settings get secure enabled_accessibility_services

# Inspect apps with active Device Administrator privileges
adb shell dumpsys device_policy

2. iOS Sysdiagnose & Mobile Verification Toolkit (MVT)

Apple iOS devices log extensive system telemetry within encrypted iTunes backups and Sysdiagnose archives. Utilizing Amnesty International's open-source Mobile Verification Toolkit (MVT), analysts can cross-reference SQLite database timestamps against known Indicators of Compromise (IOCs):

DataUsage.sqlite: Uncovers network transmission volume by background daemons that lack visible GUI app icons.
Safari History & WebKit LocalStorage: Identifies zero-click browser exploit landing URLs and redirect chains.
CrashReporter Logs: Pinpoints memory corruption crashes in imagent, gamed, or SpringBoard associated with sandbox escapes.

3. Network Traffic Isolation & C2 Exfiltration Detection

Sophisticated mobile spyware frequently attempts to bypass local on-device antivirus scanners. Routing all device traffic through a dedicated WireGuard VPN tunnel with DNS query logging (e.g. Pi-hole / Suricata) exposes suspicious periodic beacons to dynamic DNS endpoints and unpinned TLS handshakes.