Common Encrypted Data Recovery Cases
Here are some of the most common cases in encrypted data recovery and how we can get your files back:
1. Physical Damage to Encrypted Devices
When dealing with physically damaged encrypted storage devices like HDDs, SSDs, RAIDs, USB flash drives, or mobile devices, data recovery is a complex two-step process. First, engineers must address the physical damage by cloning the device, repairing the media, or replacing failed components. Only after the physical damage is handled can the data on the platter or memory cells be decrypted. This methodical approach safeguards the original files throughout the entire recovery operation.
2. Corruption of Encrypted Files
File corruption typically stems from issues like bad sectors or blocks, power failures during data writing, or malware infections. Recovering encrypted files presents a greater challenge. The initial step involves specialists reconstructing the file system and other data structures. Crucially, they must safeguard file headers and any encryption keys present in the metadata. Without these components, decrypting files becomes significantly more difficult. Our experts possess vast experience in repairing encrypted files across all operating systems.
3. Lost Encryption Key
Losing encryption keys, whether through accidental deletion or forgotten credentials, is a common issue. Our engineers specialize in recovering these keys from a disk's free space. It's critical to cease using the hard drive immediately after data loss to prevent overwriting, which can result in permanent data loss. If a password for encrypted files is forgotten, data extraction from the encrypted drive becomes exceptionally challenging, often necessitating a backup key.
4. Deleted Files on Encrypted Drive
Restoring deleted data from storage can be particularly challenging when the file system is encrypted. Some encryption standards are designed to erase the encryption key simultaneously with file deletion. In such cases, data recovery technicians need to circumvent the file system. Their goal is to locate and restore the deleted key from unallocated space. Once the encryption key is recovered and intact, they can then proceed to locate, recover, and decrypt the deleted files on the device.
5. System Failure
When a storage device with full-disk encryption experiences system failures, especially those leading to an operating system crash, encrypted data recovery becomes challenging. This is because the encrypted volume may not mount if the encryption method itself fails. In such scenarios, engineers can employ forensic tools to bypass the operating system and gain low-level access to the drive's contents, enabling file recovery.
