Mobile forensic terminology
Below you can find meanings and explanations for various abbreviations and terms used in our products and manuals:
ADB - Android Debug Bridge - allows the user to communicate and control their Android device using Windows/Linux/macOS command line.
AFU - “After first unlock” is after the device has been unlocked by entering the pin, pattern or passcode.
API - Application Programming Interface - a set of clearly defined methods of communication between various software programs.
BF or BFA - Brute force (attack), refers to bypassing or attacking and breaking a password, usually either a screen lock or a backup password.
BFU - Before first unlock is before the device has been unlocked by entering the pin, pattern or passcode.
Bootloader - enables the installed operating system to boot and startup while it verifies that all the software is genuine.
CDMA - Code-division multiple access. Older radio communication method common in the USA as an alternative to GSM.
Chipset - Commonly used term for “System-on-chip”.
CWM - ClockWorkMod recovery - another custom Android recovery.
DFU - Device Firmware Upgrade mode allows all devices to be restored from any state.
Download mode - Samsung's alternative for Fastboot, requires Odin or Heimdall to communicate with PC.
EDL - Emergency Download mode. This is the special mode through which users can perform various tasks like unbricking, unlocking the bootloader, and the installation of any custom ROMs.
Fastboot - diagnostic protocol included with the SDK package. Used primarily to modify the flash filesystem of Android devices via USB connection from the host computer.
FBE - File-based encryption.
FDE - Full disk encryption.
FRP - Factory Reset Protection - prevents the user from unlocking the phone if it was previously reset without removing the Google account.
GSM - Global System for Mobile Communications is an older protocol for digital cellular communication.
Hotkey combination - a combination of keys used to boot into either recovery or Fastboot mode on Android devices.
HTML - Hypertext Markup Language - is the standard markup language for creating web pages and web applications.
ICCID - Integrated Circuit Card Identifier - the number used to identify SIM cards.
IMEI - International Mobile Equipment Identity - a unique number to identify mobile devices.
IMSI - International Mobile Subscriber Identity - is used to identify the user of a cellular network.
iOS - the mobile operating system used exclusively in Apple devices such as iPhones and iPads.
MAC - Media Access Control - a unique identifier assigned to network interfaces for communications at the data link layer of a network segment.
MTK - MediaTek - manufacturer of semiconductors (chipsets).
MTP - Media Transfer Protocol - protocol for transfer of media files to and from a portable device.
ODIN - Odin is a utility software developed and used by Samsung internally. It is used to communicate with Samsung devices in Odin mode (also called download mode).
OEM - Original Equipment Manufacturer.
PTP - Photo Transfer Protocol.
RSA - Rivest-Shamir-Adleman cryptosystem, an encryption algorithm.
SIM - Subscriber identity module in the form of an integrated circuit card.
Spreadtrum - aka UNISOC - Chinese chipset often found in lower-cost devices.
SOC - System-on-chip is the microchip that includes the necessary circuits to run the hardware and software on a device. All the components are integrated into one chip, CPU, graphics, memory etc. Also known as the chipset.
TWRP - Team Win Recovery Project - one of the custom recoveries for Android devices.
UFED - Universal Forensic Extraction Device.
UFDR - UFED Physical Analyzer Report Package.
USB - Universal Serial Bus - an industry standard for cables, connection, communication, and power supply.
XML - Extensive Markup Language - defines a set of rules for encoding documents both human and machine-readable.