Could another linked device change the cloud record?¶
Yes. Another device linked to the same cloud account can change the cloud record.
A phone, tablet, laptop or desktop may upload, edit, rename, move or delete files and synchronise those changes to the provider.
What this means in practice¶
Another authorised device may have been active at the relevant time. A shared device, stolen device or compromised device may also create activity.
Investigators should identify all known devices connected to the account and their active sessions.
Where compromise is suspected, review trusted devices, remembered browsers, active sessions and refresh tokens.
Use careful language. State which device or session the provider associated with the event and explain the corroboration linking it to a physical device.
What this may show¶
Current device lists may be incomplete because devices can be renamed, removed or reset. Historical session and authentication records may therefore be needed to identify a device that no longer appears in the account settings.
What this does not show on its own¶
The dangerous assumption is that the device you have examined must have caused every cloud event.
Provider records may include device or browser information, IP addresses, session identifiers and application details. These can help distinguish access routes, but they may not uniquely identify a physical device.
What to do next¶
Compare cloud events with device-specific sync logs, application databases, local timestamps and network records.
Check whether one device was offline and later synchronised older changes. That can make an event appear at a time when the user was not actively editing.
Do not assume that removing the account from one device prevents other devices from continuing to act.
Key takeaway
Any linked device may alter the cloud record, so identify all active devices and sessions before attributing a change to the device in front of you.