Recovering Deleted Digital Evidence with Digital Forensics

Why Digital Evidence Matters?

As we already know, deleted doesn’t always mean gone forever—especially when it comes to digital evidence. Data loss can occur through various means such as cyberattacks, system failures, or human error, which accounts for about 29% of incidents, according to the Acronis Cyber Protection Week Global Report 2021. Alarmingly, around 30% of organisations have no disaster recovery plan in place, significantly increasing the risk and impact of data loss.

For small to medium-sized businesses, the average cost of a single data loss incident is estimated at $117,000, while for larger enterprises, costs can soar into the millions—factoring in legal fees, regulatory fines, operational downtime, and reputational damage per Kaspersky Lab.

 

Studies also show that 94% of companies experiencing catastrophic data loss fail to recover, with 43% never reopening and another 51% shutting down within two years.

These figures highlight the critical importance of data protection, backup strategies, and incident response preparedness. Digital forensics teams specialise in recovering lost, hidden or deleted data from computers, mobile devices and cloud platforms. They often play a critical role in legal cases, fraud or corporate investigations, and cybersecurity incidents. But while technology can work wonders, there are important limits to keep in mind. 

In this article,  we will cover the capabilities and limitations of digital forensics investigations with a focus on the retrieval of digital evidence.

Types of Digital Evidence That Can Be Recovered

• Recover Recently Deleted Files: Even after files are deleted, traces often remain on hard drives, SSDs, mobile devices, and cloud platforms. Skilled forensic analysts can often recover these artefacts using specialised tools. 

• Analyse Metadata: Forensics isn’t just about files — it’s about context. Investigators can often retrieve metadata (like who created a document, when it was edited, or when it was deleted). 

• Restore Partial Data: Even if a file is damaged or partially overwritten, digital forensics can sometimes recover fragments that help reconstruct what happened. 

• Access Hidden or Encrypted Data: Many users try to hide or encrypt files before deletion. Forensic techniques, combined with legal authority, can sometimes decrypt and reveal this hidden information. 

• Identify Patterns of Deletion: Even if files themselves can’t be recovered, forensic logs can show when and how mass deletions occurred, strengthening an investigation. 

Limitations in Data Retrieval

• Recover Fully Overwritten Data: When a file has been securely overwritten multiple times (especially with specialised wiping software), recovery becomes impossible, even with advanced tools. 

• Bypass Strong Encryption Without Keys: If strong encryption is used properly and the decryption keys are unavailable, accessing the data may be practically impossible. 

• Fix Physically Destroyed Storage: If a hard drive or smartphone is severely physically damaged (crushed, burned, etc.), data recovery may require expensive hardware forensics — and even then, full recovery isn’t guaranteed. 

• Guarantee 100% Recovery: Every situation is unique. Factors like storage type, time since deletion, and user actions afterwards affect how much — if any — data can be recovered. 

What Types of Deleted Files Can Be Recovered or Lost Forever? 

 Let’s break down 5 common types of digital evidence, their typical recoverability status, and what investigators can expect when attempting to retrieve them. 

• Documents (e.g., .docx, .pdf, .txt) 

Text-based files like Word documents, PDFs, and plain text files are usually among the easiest to recover. If they haven’t been overwritten or securely deleted, chances are good that forensic tools can retrieve them. In many cases, even the metadata—such as the author’s name, last modified date, and version history—can offer useful insights. 

• Images (e.g., .jpg, .png, .bmp) 

Images are commonly stored on computers, smartphones, and cloud services. While recoverable, if intact, they are also prone to fragmentation, especially if the file is large or stored across multiple sectors. Even when an image file is corrupted or missing, forensic tools can often extract thumbnails or cached versions from temporary folders. 

•  Emails (e.g., from Outlook, webmail, .pst files)

Emails are goldmines for evidence. Whether stored locally (as in Microsoft Outlook .pst or .ost files) or in cloud-based systems like Gmail, emails can often be recovered even after deletion. Local client files and email server backups are rich sources. Deleted messages may also remain in “unallocated” space or in system backup files. 

• Browser History & Cache 

Your browser knows more about your habits than you think. Even if history is cleared, artefacts such as cookies, cached files, and browsing logs may still exist. While some browsers automatically delete older data, forensic tools can often extract relevant traces from disk or RAM. 

• Videos (e.g., .mp4, .avi, .mov) 

Videos are large, which makes them more vulnerable to partial loss. If only part of the file remains, recovery tools may extract partial footage or still frames. However, due to fragmentation and overwriting, full recovery of large video files is less likely unless backups exist. 

Recovery chances depend on file system type, deletion method, and time elapsed since deletion, some files are completely irrecoverable, depending on the methods used for deletion, the state of the storage medium and drive settings. 

TenIntelligence Thoughts

Digital forensics is a powerful tool for uncovering hidden or deleted information, but it’s not magic. Acting quickly after data loss or suspected tampering significantly improves the chances of recovery.  

If you believe critical digital evidence has been deleted, report it immediately. Partnering with an experienced team to drastically improve your chances of recovering valuable information.

At TenIntelligence, our digital forensics specialists combine advanced tools with deep investigative experience to uncover hidden data, support litigation, and protect your organisation’s interests.

Whether you’re dealing with corporate fraud, insider threats, or cybersecurity incidents, we can help you recover the truth — even when it’s been deleted!

Have questions or want to request a confidential assessment? Reach out to us at info@tenintel.com.

Written by

Lisseth Ortiz Diaz | Digital Forensics Associate