Quick Answer
The correct answer is the Keychain database (keychain-backup.plist) and the com.apple.accounts.plist file. These two sources are typical for extracting iOS iCloud artifacts in an iTunes backup because the accounts.plist stores the user’s primary iCloud email address and account metadata, while the keychain-backup.plist holds encrypted credentials such as iCloud tokens and passwords. On the Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator CHFI exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between configuration files and security databases; a common trap is confusing the accounts.plist with the general system plist or overlooking the keychain’s role in storing authentication artifacts. Remember that accounts.plist tells you *which* iCloud account was used, while the keychain reveals *how* the device authenticates to iCloud. A useful memory tip: “Accounts show the address, Keychain holds the keys.”
This CHFI practice question tests your understanding of mobile and malware forensics. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 forensic examiner is analyzing an iOS device backup and wants to extract the user's iCloud-related artefacts. Which TWO of the following are typical sources of iCloud artefacts in an iTunes backup?
AddressBook.db
Why wrong: Contacts are not iCloud-specific artefacts.
com.apple.accounts.plist
This plist contains iCloud account details.
Call_history.db
Why wrong: Call history is unrelated to iCloud.
Keychain database (keychain-backup.plist)
Keychain stores iCloud tokens and passwords.
SMS.db
Why wrong: SMS.db contains text messages, not iCloud account data.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
com.apple.accounts.plist
Option B is correct because the `com.apple.accounts.plist` file in an iTunes backup stores the user's iCloud account configuration, including the primary iCloud email address and associated account metadata. This plist is a direct source for identifying which iCloud account was configured on the device, making it a key artefact for iCloud-related analysis.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
AddressBook.db
Why it's wrong here
Contacts are not iCloud-specific artefacts.
com.apple.accounts.plist
Why this is correct
This plist contains iCloud account details.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Call_history.db
Why it's wrong here
Call history is unrelated to iCloud.
Keychain database (keychain-backup.plist)
Why this is correct
Keychain stores iCloud tokens and passwords.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
SMS.db
Why it's wrong here
SMS.db contains text messages, not iCloud account data.
Common exam traps
EC-Council often tests the misconception that iCloud artefacts are found in user-facing databases like SMS.db or AddressBook.db, when in fact they reside in system configuration files like plists and the Keychain database.
Detailed technical explanation
The `com.apple.accounts.plist` is a property list file that holds account types (e.g., iCloud, Exchange) and their associated settings, including the iCloud account's username (Apple ID) and authentication tokens. Under the hood, iOS uses the Accounts framework to manage these plists, and during an iTunes backup, they are serialized into the backup's domain structure. In real-world forensics, extracting this plist can reveal the iCloud email even if the device is locked, enabling further cloud data acquisition via legal requests.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
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FAQ
Mobile and Malware Forensics — This question tests Mobile and Malware Forensics — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: com.apple.accounts.plist — Option B is correct because the `com.apple.accounts.plist` file in an iTunes backup stores the user's iCloud account configuration, including the primary iCloud email address and associated account metadata. This plist is a direct source for identifying which iCloud account was configured on the device, making it a key artefact for iCloud-related analysis.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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