What methods can be used to recover deleted files in digital forensics?

The recovery of deleted files in digital forensics primarily relies on techniques that allow forensic experts to access and reconstruct data that has been marked for deletion but may still reside on storage media. Data carving, file recovery software, and analysis of storage media are critical methods used in this process because they focus on understanding the underlying structure of file systems and the physical layout of storage devices.

Data carving involves scanning the raw data on a storage medium and identifying file fragments based on known file signatures or patterns, irrespective of the file system. This approach is especially useful for retrieving files that have been deleted but have not yet been overwritten.

File recovery software is specifically designed to recover files lost due to deletion, corruption, or formatting. These tools can recover files from various storage media, employing algorithms that reconstruct the data based on remnants still present on the disk.

Additionally, analysis of storage media encompasses a comprehensive investigation of the storage environment, including examining metadata, slack space, and unallocated sectors, which can reveal additional remnants of deleted files.

In contrast, methods such as file encryption and obfuscation do not contribute to file recovery but instead serve to protect data by making it inaccessible without proper decryption keys. System reinstallation and antivirus scanning focus on system integrity and malware detection rather