The Most Common Causes of Data Loss

We rely on our data extensively. The files, applications, and contact lists that we build can be critical to day-to-day business operation. We often take this data for granted as we use it to build successful companies. The truth is that data can often be lost or stolen. Many companies aren’t doing what it takes to maintain access to this crucial data in the event of a crisis.

 

Data loss can occur for a variety of reasons. It can be something as serious as hacking or something as trivial as a spill over a keyboard. The outcome is often devastating to the company or individual.

 

How Companies Lose Data

 

Accidental Deletion

 

Old files can clutter desktops and drives. Deleting what we no longer use is an often-used method for staying organized and uncluttered. The problem arrives when you accidentally delete a file that’s necessary to your organization. When you don’t back up the data, this can be a dangerous and damaging scenario.

 

Computer Crashes or Power Loss

 

If you are writing a new document or working with existing data, it’s crucial to save the document as you continue to work. If you are working in complex databases or creating new documents your work can be completely lost in the event that your computer crashes. This can cause lost work that can never be recovered.

 

A power loss can cause a short that renders data unrecoverable. It can lead to mechanical damage within the machine. The easiest way to protect yourself is through automatic and regular backups of your work.

 

Viruses, Malware, or Hacking

 

There are many different types of viruses and malware, and there are many people out there with malicious intent. This can impact operational software, stored data, and leave you exposed to a world of problems. Hackers can also cause damage to your digital assets, resulting in data loss.

 

Large corporations are responsible for extensive troves of valuable and sensitive data – making them frequent targets for malicious intent. Regular cloud backups or removable drive backups can be critical in recovering from data loss. It’s also important to install antivirus software to protect yourself.

 

Mechanical Damage

 

Hard drives break down over time. They are composed of many moving parts, and those parts are often delicate. Once you have problems with a hard drive, all of the data stored on that particular drive can be put at risk. A data recovery company may be your best bet at this point to recover any critical data.

 

Sometimes computers break due to their age, and the typical wear and tear of any product. Sometimes there are manufacturing defects. A computer’s memory can often be affected when a computer is accidentally dropped.

 

Regular backups protect against hardware defects.

 

Recover Data by All Means Necessary

 

As you may have noticed, backing up your data is a critical step in preventing data loss. Once important data is lost, contacting a data recovery company is your best bet in recovering that data. There are free versions of recovery software, but those programs may actually decrease the chances that you recover what was lost. If you’re looking to recover lost data, call us today at (866) 400-DATA.

Data Recovery for Smart Phones

We’re all carrying around computers in our pocket. The information that can be stored by our smartphones, tablets, and other devices is quite remarkable. Think of the music, pictures, and documents that you can quickly access. But with that technological convenience comes another reality to consider.

 

Smartphones are prone to crash. Their data can corrupt. We also tend to be rough on them through everyday usage. We drop them on the ground, in water, or crack their screens, and break them in new and innovative ways. It’s easy to lose the data that we’ve taken for granted in our pocket.

 

A lot of people rely heavily on their smart phones, and a broken device may mean inaccessible business data. Photos, apps, and contacts can be inaccessible, creating a whole host of new problems. No one wants to start over with their data. With a little bit of understanding on the device and the issue, they may not have to.

 

The Location of Data May Vary

 

Where your smartphone stores data may vary by make and model. Apple’s iPhones store their data with internal memory. The various models use different sizes of NAND flash memory. You can also set your phone up to store information to iCloud or iTunes, Apple’s cloud-based solutions.

 

Android’s have a similar setup. They have internal memory, often NAND flash. Some devices also contain an SD card. If you’ve lost data it may be stored on this card. The SIM card itself may also have a copy of the data, but this may depend on the amount of memory previously available on the card. Most new Android phones also offer cloud options for data backup as well. Whether you’re operating with an Apple or Android phone, it’s recommended that you use the cloud option to back up critical data to avoid this loss.

 

How Smartphone Data is Lost

 

Physical damage caused by the user can result in a mechanical failure. This includes things like drops, water damage, or anything else that can disrupt the mechanical operation of the phone. With hard enough contact, the flash memory chip on the internal circuit board can break, and be rendered useless. Regular wear and tear of an aging phone can also be a cause for mechanical failure. Either way, it can result in missing file structures or links, or if there are faulty memory applications.

 

The good news is that many times with mechanical failures, the files are simply not able to be displayed. They are often, however still on the memory, and ultimately recoverable.

 

Recovering Lost Data on a Smartphone

 

Data recovery software for smartphones can be a risky endeavor. It doesn’t have a high success rate, and it can lead to larger problems, as noted in our recent post, The Hard Truth About Data Recovery Software. If you are looking for your best chance to recover lost data, you may want to hire a data recovery specialist.

 

Data recovery companies such as We Recover Data can use their extensive tools and resources to help you recover your lost data before it is too late. If you’re looking to recover smart phone data, call us today at (866) 400-DATA.