Here are the interview questions with
detailed model answers:
1. What are
Call Detail Records (CDR) and Subscriber Detail Records (SDR), and what kind of
information do they typically contain?
Answer:
CDRs are telecom operator-generated logs of voice and SMS communications. They
typically record caller and receiver numbers, call duration, timestamps, cell
tower location (cell ID), and SMS metadata. They help establish who
communicated, when, and from where. SDRs contain static subscriber identity
data like name, address, KYC information maintained by telecom companies.
However, SDRs do not contain communication timing or session details.
2. Can CDR
and SDR provide timing information related to PDFs, audio, or video files
shared through WhatsApp? Why or why not?
Answer:
No, CDR and SDR cannot provide timing of file transfers on WhatsApp. CDRs
capture data session timings and gross internet usage but cannot see inside the
encrypted WhatsApp app to log specific file sharing events. SDRs store only
subscriber identity details and are unrelated to data or app usage timings.
3. Explain
the difference between telecom operator records (like CDR/SDR) and WhatsApp
application-level metadata in the context of digital evidence.
Answer:
Telecom records (CDR/SDR) reflect network-level communications such as calls,
SMS, and data sessions but lack content details of internet-based apps due to
encryption. WhatsApp metadata—stored on devices or servers—includes message
timestamps, sender/receiver info, and attachment details, derived directly from
the app layer. This metadata provides precise evidence about file sharing
events that telecom records cannot capture.
4. How does
WhatsApp store data about shared files such as PDFs, audio, and videos on a
user’s device?
Answer:
WhatsApp uses encrypted SQLite database files on the user’s device—msgstore.db on
Android and ChatStorage.sqlite on iOS—that log all conversations and
media transfers. These databases include timestamps and metadata about shared
files, allowing forensic experts to extract timing and content-related
evidence.
5. What
forensic methods are used to determine the timing of file sharing on WhatsApp?
Answer:
Forensic experts create a forensic image of the device to extract WhatsApp
databases without altering data. Analysis of msgstore.db or ChatStorage.sqlite reveals message logs, including
timestamps for sending or receiving PDFs, audio, or video files. This
device-level forensic examination is the primary source of precise timing
information.
6. What role
do Internet Protocol Detail Records (IPDR) play in digital forensic
investigations involving WhatsApp?
Answer:
IPDRs capture internet session-level data such as start and end times of data
sessions, IP addresses accessed (including WhatsApp servers), and total data
transferred. While they cannot decrypt WhatsApp content, IPDRs corroborate that
WhatsApp data sessions were active at particular times, supporting forensic
timing analysis.
7. Describe
the significance of device-level forensic examinations in obtaining WhatsApp
evidence.
Answer:
Device-level forensics provide direct, unaltered access to WhatsApp messaging
databases and metadata. Unlike telecom records, they reveal exact timestamps of
file sharing events and identify participants. This forensic evidence is
critical for proving communication timing and content in courts.
8. What are
the key challenges in relying on CDR and SDR for investigating app-based
communications?
Answer:
CDR and SDR lack visibility inside encrypted messaging apps, cannot provide
precise messaging or file-sharing timestamps, and offer only gross data
timings. Their limited scope makes them insufficient for establishing app-level
digital communications, necessitating device forensics for accurate evidence.
9. How is
digital evidence from WhatsApp authenticated and admitted in Indian courts
under Section 65B of the Indian Evidence Act?
Answer:
Section 65B mandates that electronic records be accompanied by a certificate
verifying their authenticity, detailing the manner of production, device used,
and confirming no alteration occurred. WhatsApp evidence must have this
certification and be collected preserving the data’s integrity, usually
requiring forensic imaging and expert testimony.
10. What is
the importance of maintaining the chain of custody for digital evidence such as
WhatsApp data?
Answer:
Maintaining strict chain of custody documents every step from evidence
collection to court submission, ensuring the data remains unaltered and
authentic. This procedural rigor is essential for the court to admit digital
evidence, preventing challenges based on tampering or contamination.
11. Explain
the process and importance of forensic imaging in smartphone investigations.
Answer:
Forensic imaging creates a bit-by-bit, exact copy of a device’s storage without
modifying the original. This allows detailed analysis of the WhatsApp databases
and other data in a tamper-proof manner, preserving the original evidence
reliably for court examination.
12. What
legal mechanisms, like the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), are involved
in obtaining WhatsApp metadata from servers, particularly in cross-border
cases?
Answer:
MLATs are formal international agreements facilitating the lawful exchange of
digital evidence, including WhatsApp metadata, across jurisdictions. Since
WhatsApp servers are typically overseas, obtaining server-side metadata
requires MLAT requests through diplomatic channels, which can be lengthy and
complex.
13. Can you
discuss the limitations and strengths of combining CDR, IPDR, and device
forensics to build a digital evidence case related to WhatsApp file sharing?
Answer:
Combining these sources allows triangulation of evidence: CDRs confirm telecom
activity, IPDRs verify internet session timings with WhatsApp servers, and
device forensics provide detailed, precise logs of actual WhatsApp file-sharing
events. While CDR/IPDR alone lacks granularity, together with device forensics,
they build a robust evidentiary foundation.
14. Why is
understanding digital evidence and forensic limitations important for judicial
officers handling modern communication technology cases?
Answer:
Judicial officers must grasp the capabilities and limits of digital forensic
tools to evaluate evidence validity, prevent wrongful conclusions, and ensure
due procedure. Misunderstanding can lead to improper evidence acceptance or
rejection, affecting justice delivery in technologically complex cases.
15. How does
end-to-end encryption on WhatsApp impact the availability and reliability of
digital evidence?
Answer:
End-to-end encryption protects content from interception, meaning WhatsApp
servers do not store message contents or media. This limits law enforcement
solely to accessing metadata and device-forensic copies of messages. Encryption
enhances privacy but complicates evidence collection, requiring reliance on
device forensics and metadata for prosecutions.
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