Analysis of data acquisition methods from chips in digital forensics investigations

In the digital age, securely storing data and accessing it when needed is crucial for forensic investigations. Damage to or inaccessibility of this data complicates obtaining evidence in judicial processes and leads to critical information loss. This study aims to access data within physically damaged and inaccessible storage units using the chip-off method. In the first part of the study, a literature review was conducted, examining previous academic research on forensic processes, types of investigations, and chipoff methods. In the second part, the chip types of various storage devices—including mobile devices, SSDs, flash drives, and memory cards—were identified. Suitable recovery tools such as soldering stations, hot air stations, microscopes, fume extractors, soldering irons, anti-static wristbands, flux, ultrasonic cleaning devices, and PC3000 software were prepared and used to access the data within the chips. As a result, the study explains the concept of data recovery, different recovery methods, and the physical structures and internal components of storage units like mobile devices, memory cards, SSDs, and flash drives. Data within these units were accessed according to chip types, and a forensic analysis of the recovered data was performed. This study is significant because it demonstrates that, despite physical damage and accessibility issues in digital storage units, data can be successfully recovered using the chip-off method and appropriate technical tools, enabling this data to be used as reliable evidence in forensic investigations. Keywords: Forensic Computing, Data Recovery, Chip Types, Chip-Off, Data Storage Units