CHFI Mobile and Malware Forensics Practice Question
This CHFI practice question tests your understanding of mobile and malware forensics. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A mobile forensic examiner is analyzing an Android device that has been factory reset. Which TWO of the following artefacts are MOST likely to still be recoverable after a factory reset? (Select TWO)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
SMS messages
SMS messages (A) are stored in the Android internal database file `/data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db`. A factory reset typically only marks the database file's storage blocks as free in the ext4 filesystem without performing a secure wipe, leaving the raw data recoverable via forensic tools like Cellebrite or Oxygen Forensic until overwritten. Google account tokens (D) are stored in the AccountManager service's SQLite database under `/data/system/users/0/accounts.db` and in the `authtoken` table; even after a factory reset, the underlying NAND flash memory may retain these tokens due to wear-leveling and garbage collection delays, allowing recovery with chip-off or JTAG techniques.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
SMS messages
Why this is correct
SMS messages are stored in SQLite databases that may leave remnants in unallocated space.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Deleted applications' data
Why it's wrong here
Factory reset erases app data, making recovery difficult.
✗
Call logs
Why it's wrong here
Call logs are stored in user partition and are typically wiped.
✓
Google account tokens
Why this is correct
Account tokens may be stored in system databases that can be partially recovered.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Photos stored in internal storage
Why it's wrong here
Internal storage (e.g., /sdcard) may not be wiped by factory reset, but photos are often on user partition that is wiped.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that a factory reset securely erases all data, but the trap here is that the reset only performs a logical deletion and filesystem-level wipe, not a secure overwrite, so residual data like SMS and authentication tokens can persist in unallocated space or NAND flash cells.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Android's factory reset uses the `wipe_data` recovery command that calls `vdc volume reset` to unmount and reformat the userdata partition, but the reformatting is often a quick `make_ext4fs` that only writes new superblock and inode tables, leaving the old data blocks intact until overwritten by new user activity. In real-world forensics, examiners leverage this by performing a physical acquisition before the device is used post-reset, as the NAND flash's FTL (Flash Translation Layer) may still map to old physical pages even after logical deletion, especially on eMMC chips with large over-provisioning areas.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the CHFI exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CHFI question in full detail.
Mobile and Malware Forensics — This question tests Mobile and Malware Forensics — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: SMS messages — SMS messages (A) are stored in the Android internal database file `/data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db`. A factory reset typically only marks the database file's storage blocks as free in the ext4 filesystem without performing a secure wipe, leaving the raw data recoverable via forensic tools like Cellebrite or Oxygen Forensic until overwritten. Google account tokens (D) are stored in the AccountManager service's SQLite database under `/data/system/users/0/accounts.db` and in the `authtoken` table; even after a factory reset, the underlying NAND flash memory may retain these tokens due to wear-leveling and garbage collection delays, allowing recovery with chip-off or JTAG techniques.
What should I do if I get this CHFI question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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