Data Recovery Process for Lost Files

At HAGEN ENTREPRISE, we employ advanced techniques to recover lost data, whether due to physical damage or encryption. Below is an overview of our approach in different scenarios.

Data Recovery from a Damaged Hard Drive (Example: Water Damage from Flooding)

Diagnosis and Analysis

• Reading SMART logs to identify critical errors.
• Microscopic inspection to verify the integrity of read/write heads and platters.
• Spectrometric analysis to determine the degree of component oxidation.

Damage Identification

• Electromechanical failure: Malfunction of internal components such as read/write heads and printed circuit board (PCB).
• Platter oxidation: Exposure to moisture can cause corrosion affecting data readability.
• Short circuit or electronic failure: Water infiltration can destroy electronic circuits.
• Bad sectors: Sector mapping analysis using specialized software such as PC-3000.

Data Restoration and Extraction

• Replacement of defective components (read/write heads, preamplifier, electronic circuits) with compatible parts.
• Ultrasonic cleaning using a special anti-oxidation solution.
• Firmware recalibration to realign read/write heads.
• Use of low-level cloning tools such as Deepspar Disk Imager to extract data without over-stressing the damaged drive.

Recovery of Encrypted Data (Example: Ransomware or Lost Password)

In-Depth Analysis of the Encrypted Drive

• Extracting file system metadata to identify encryption algorithms used (AES, RSA, Twofish, etc.).
• Analyzing disk sectors to detect encryption patterns and verify partition table integrity.
• Identifying session keys potentially stored in volatile memory through forensic analysis.

Recovery of the Encryption Key

• Extracting encryption keys stored in the Windows registry or encrypted configuration files.
• Memory analysis (RAM dump) using tools like Volatility or Rekall to recover fragments of keys still present.
• Decryption using optimized GPU-powered brute-force attacks (with tools such as Hashcat or John the Ripper) if protection is password-based.
• Exploiting known vulnerabilities in certain ransomware variants to extract decryption keys (e.g., Emsisoft decryptors).

Decryption and Data Restoration

• Once the key is obtained, we apply the corresponding decryption algorithm (using OpenSSL, BitLocker recovery, VeraCrypt recovery tools, etc.).
• Reconstructing corrupted files using binary structure repair tools.
• Verifying the integrity of restored files using hash comparison tools (SHA-256, MD5).

Finalization and Delivery to Client

• Validating the integrity of recovered data by checking file signatures.
• Archiving decrypted files in a password-protected folder, securely delivered to the client.
• Detailed report on the cause of data loss and recommendations to prevent future incidents.

Our commitment is to provide reliable, fast, and secure data recovery, minimizing the loss of critical information for our clients as much as possible.