BlackBerry PlayBook Backup Forensic Analysis

Due to the numerous complicating factors in the field of small scale digital device forensics, physical acquisition of the storage of such devices is often not possible (at least not without destroying the device). As an alternative, forensic examiners often gather digital evidence from small scale digital devices through logical acquisition. This paper focuses on analyzing the backup file generated for the BlackBerry PlayBook device, using the BlackBerry Desktop Management software to perform the logical acquisition. Our work involved analyzing the generated “.bbb” file looking for traces and artifacts of user activity on the device. Our results identified key files that can assist in creating a profile of the device’s usage. Information about BlackBerry smart phone devices connected to the tablet was also recovered.