| Recover More Photos with SmarCarving Technology | | | | That is until the discovery of SmartCarving |
| This article describes SmartCarving, a new recovery | | | | technology. |
| technique that improves the recovery rate of | | | | SmartCarving Technology Breakthrough |
| deleted files by actually analyzing the contents of | | | | Lately there is a new carving technique called |
| each file. This greatly improves on the signature | | | | SmartCarving which recovers files not based on their |
| based techniques used in current recovery products, | | | | starting signatures, but based on the actual contents |
| as they are unable to handle files that have been | | | | of files. SmartCarving analyzes files block by block |
| fragmented or corrupted. | | | | determining if and where files are fragmented, and |
| In addition, SmartCarving techniques allow for the | | | | by looking at the actual content of the data |
| validation of deleted files, therefore, greatly improving | | | | determines where the next pieces of the file are. In |
| the ability to determine which files are complete and | | | | essence, SmartCarving attempts to solve the digital |
| which files are partial or broken. What does this all | | | | equivalent of mixing hundreds of jigsaw puzzles |
| mean? It basically translates to 15-20% more files | | | | together and reconstructing each one. |
| recovered on average when compared to existing | | | | As each disk block is analyzed it is compared against |
| photo recovery products. | | | | that of the previous block to determine how good a |
| How Does Traditional Photo Recovery Software | | | | fit it is. For photos this involves looking at the |
| Work? | | | | boundaries formed when adding a new block and |
| Recovery of deleted photo or image files is | | | | determining the likelihood that the block belongs to |
| accomplished by a technique called file or data | | | | the photo. In other words, not only is the structure |
| carving. Traditional data carving, attempts to find the | | | | of the photo used to recover, but individual photo |
| unique header associated with a photo or image file | | | | contents are used. This is in fact very similar to how |
| type (for example - "FFD8" for jpegs) and then | | | | a human would recognize a corrupted photo. |
| assumes that the remaining parts of the file are | | | | Research has shown that on average up to 15-20% |
| stored consecutively on the disk. | | | | more photos can recovered by SmartCarving |
| Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that a photo or | | | | technology compared to any other technique. |
| image file is sequentially stored on a disk. This is | | | | While all this sounds interesting what is the science |
| because, the file storage may be fragmented (1 or | | | | behind it and does it really work? SmartCarving was |
| more pieces of the file are stored in different areas | | | | researched and presented as a paper to the Digital |
| of the disk), or worse, part of the file may have | | | | Forensics Research Workshop (DRFWS) in 2008. It |
| been over-written by another file. | | | | won the best paper of the conference award, and |
| This means that most recovery tools show | | | | therefore, has the recognition of the foremost |
| corrupted or garbage images when showing a | | | | forensic scientists in the world. |
| recovered deleted photo or image file. A common | | | | Another product called Adroit Photo Recovery |
| misconception is that since the image is not seen the | | | | incorporates SmartCarving for jpegs. While currently |
| rest of the data is not present. However, the rest of | | | | only photos are supported, future products will |
| the data may be present, but since most recovery | | | | support SmartCarving of additional file types. Adroit |
| tools are unable to handle fragmented data the user | | | | Photo Recovery is free to try and can easily be |
| is never aware if the file can be recovered or not. | | | | downloaded from Internet. |