Are Satellite-Capable Phones a New Risk in Forensics?
What new phones that can message via satellite mean for digital forensics labs, and what changes in signal isolation as a result.
3 min readOctober 30, 2026
Three Tools, Three Different Jobs
The tools used to protect electronic evidence don't replace one another; they complement each other. The Faraday bag is used at the moment of seizure, the shielded box for transport and short-term storage, and the shielded room during the examination.
Problems usually arise when a tool is used outside its own job, for example trying to do the examination inside a bag, or using a box for months of storage.
The Faraday Bag
A bag is ideal for quick action in the field. It's light, fits in a pocket and isolates a phone in seconds. But how it is folded and closed directly affects performance; an improperly closed flap leads to signal leakage.
Working on the device, seeing its screen or charging it inside a bag isn't practical. Depending on use, the fabric wears over time and isolation drops. That's why regular testing of bags is recommended.
The Shielded Evidence Box
Hard-shell shielded boxes provide both physical and electromagnetic protection during transport. Some models have a charging connection and a viewing window, so the device can stay on and charging throughout the journey.
The box securely links the chain from the scene to the lab. Where that chain is long for units far from headquarters, a shielded container provides the same protection on a larger scale in the field.
The Shielded Room
The examination itself requires an environment where the examiner can use the device freely, connect it to a computer and work for hours. That environment is the cyber security room: no wireless signals inside, but power, internet and air conditioning.
In the right workflow, the device moves from bag to box, from box to room, and doesn't leave the room until the examination is over. Depending on your lab's volume, we can review options from a single-station enclosure to a multi-station room.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a Faraday bag tested?
A simple check is to place a working phone in the bag and call it; a definitive result requires a frequency sweep with a measuring instrument.
Isn't a shielded box enough for the examination?
It may do for quick checks, but long, detailed examinations need a room where the examiner can work comfortably.
What should labs without a room do?
As a first step, a single-station shielded enclosure can be set up quickly inside the existing lab.
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