Disk Cloning Scenarios #4: Digital Forensic Data Recovery

Forensic data recovery is an essential part of digital forensic science. It helps retrieve valuable data from damaged source devices to assist legal evidence. EaseUS Disk Copy here can create a forensic image of the device for in-depth data recovery.

In today's modern digital age, data breaches and cyber-attacks are increasing threats to data security, whether businesses or individuals may suffer from different forms of data loss. If the lost data is vital in legal proceedings or criminal investigations, resorting to forensic science and technologies would be helpful for evidence collection used in court.

That's where forensic data recovery comes in. This post from EaseUS software will focus on data recovery in digital forensics, explaining what forensic data recovery is, how does forensic data recovery work, and more profound information.

Overview of Forensic Data Recovery

Forensic data recovery is a specialized field that retrieves and analyzes lost, deleted, or hidden information from electronic devices in a forensically sound manner.

These digital storage media are Data Bearing Devices (DBD), which involve hard disk drives (HDDs), solid state drives (SSDs), USB flash drives, SD cards, laptops, desktops, smartphones, tablets, and network storage devices.

Extracting data from damaged evidence sources requires meticulous techniques and should not corrupt the sensitive information, maintaining data integrity and authenticity.

The extracted data is commonly used as legal evidence for criminal investigations, civil litigation, data breach investigations, and corporate investigations.

Process of Forensic Data Recovery

To ensure a systematic and legal approach to recovering data from various storage devices, the digital forensic investigation is typically divided into four stages: assessment, acquisition, analysis, and presentation.

Stage 1. Assessment

In the initial phase, the forensic investigator determines the scope of the forensic investigation. This includes identifying the type of data to be recovered, the devices involved, the systems used, and any related potential legal issues.

During this stage, the data involved is supposed to reside on servers or cloud storage and be under strict control. Only authorized investigative teams can access the gathered information to maintain data integrity.

Stage 2. Acquisition

Once all devices and sources in this investigation are secured, the forensic experts will implement specialized methodologies and techniques to extract data from damaged evidence sources.

This includes creating a forensic image (bit-by-bit copy) of the data storage device. Forensic imaging or cloning involves creating an exact copy of the entire part of the damaged source device, including files, hidden partitions, and all data.

Carrying out an in-depth analysis of the forensic image can prevent any alteration or damage to the original data to ensure that the original media remains intact.

This is where EaseUS Disk Copy comes in handy. This disk cloning software enables users to save a 100% identical duplicate of the original erased, encrypted, or damaged device.

In this case, investigators can feel free to perform forensic analysis and recover data from disk image while keeping the source device intact.

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Stage 3. Analysis

After duplicating the involved source and data, forensic investigators will adopt scientific and statistical techniques to analyze the data.

Here are some practical forensic analysis methods to build a clear and detailed understanding of the valuable evidence that will help the investigation.

• File or Data Carving: It is a method to find and extract specific file patterns and signatures from storage devices by scanning their raw data. Even in cases where file metadata is missing, this technology can reconstruct a file or data by recognizing different headers, footers, or other file signatures.
• Memory Forensics: It analyzes a computer's volatile memory (RAM) to uncover evidence. Unlike traditional file forensics, which examines data stored on disk, memory forensics deals with activity data stored temporarily in memory. It is a powerful tool for understanding a system's state at a given time.
• Fragmentation Analysis: It examines fragmented files across multiple sectors on a storage medium. This technique can analyze the file system, assemble its segments, and reconstruct the complete file, restoring valuable information even when the files are fragmented or partially overwritten.
• Reverse Steganography: This technique hides information in another file, such as placing text in an image or audio file. It focuses on finding and retrieving the hidden information from the file. To do this, forensic investigators use special tools to find and extract hidden data from different types of files.
• Cloud Acquisition: This innovative and emerging method retrieves data stored or backed up on a cloud service associated with the device, such as iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox, or WhatsApp. This methodology can access data that does not exist on the device, including old versions of files, deleted files, or files that exist only in the cloud.

Stage 4. Presentation

The final stage involves documenting and presenting the findings clearly and comprehensively.

This includes preparing reports, visualizations, or other documents that effectively communicate the evidence collected. In legal terminology, this stage may involve digital forensic investigators as expert witnesses and explaining the investigation methodology and results to a judge or jury.

Criteria for Effective Forensic Data Collection

Effective forensic data collection is crucial for preserving the integrity of digital evidence and ensuring its admissibility in legal proceedings.

Here are some critical criteria for effective forensic data recovery:

⏩Legal Authorization

Ensure that the collection process has appropriate legal authorization, such as a search warrant or court order, to avoid legal challenges to the admissibility of evidence.

⏩Chain of Custody

Maintain a transparent chain of custody throughout the data collection process. This includes documenting who collected the evidence, when it was collected, how it was transported, and any individuals who had access to it afterward.

⏩Use of Appropriate Tools

Use standardized, reliable forensic tools and software widely accepted by the forensic community for effective data recovery.

⏩Compliance with Guidelines and Standards

Adhere to established forensic guidelines and standards to ensure that collection methods are consistent with professional practices and legal requirements.

Recommended Software for Computer Forensics

DFIR (Digital Forensics and Incident Response) tools are indispensable for forensic data recovery and analysis. Here is a short list of digital forensic software:

• FTK (Forensic Toolkit)
• Autopsy
• Volatility
• The Sleuth Kit
• VIP 2.0 (Video Investigation Portable)
• RegRipper
• ExifTool
• WinFE
• KAPE