Are Microsoft “Single-Use Code” Emails a Security Risk?

Subject: Microsoft account security code From: Microsoft account team  Your single-use code is: ******* If you didn’t request this code, you can safely ignore this email. Someone else might have typed your email address by mistake. Thanks, The Microsoft account...
August 15, 2024

Computer Is On, But The Screen Is Black: Troubleshooting and Data Recovery

One of the most common computer failure scenarios is also one of the most difficult to diagnose: The computer turns on, but the screen is black (or otherwise not responsive).  The core issue is simple: The monitor isn’t receiving a...
July 18, 2024

What Are Cryptocurrency “Address-Poisoning” Attacks?

Address poisoning, also known as address spoofing, is a type of cryptocurrency attack in which an attacker sends a small amount of worthless tokens to a victim. The attacker’s wallet has an address that resembles a wallet used by a...
July 9, 2024

“Getting Windows Ready:” How Long to Wait

You’re booting Windows, and you see a screen that reads: Getting Windows ready Don’t turn off your computer You wait patiently — but eventually, your patience wears thin. How long should you wait for Windows to install updates before performing...
April 2, 2024

“Hard Disk Failure Is Imminent” Error Message: What to Know

During the startup process, certain HP, Dell, and Lenovo computers may present a “hard disk failure is imminent” error message. As you might expect, this is a serious symptom — and if you’re looking for fast answers, you should immediately...
February 23, 2024

When Should You Clone a Hard Drive?

If you’ve lost data from a hard drive and you need to get it back, the best practice is to clone your drive — but only if the drive is in working condition.  Cloning a hard drive is an intensive...
December 8, 2023

Internal Hard Drive Keeps Disconnecting: Troubleshooting Tips

If your internal hard disk drive (HDD) keeps disconnecting, you’ve got a potentially serious problem — and if the drive holds critically important data, we strongly recommend shutting down the affected system before taking any additional steps. In the vast...
November 28, 2023

How Can I Make My Hard Drive Last Longer? 

Hard disk drives (HDDs) are mechanical devices — and unless the laws of physics suddenly change, every hard drive will eventually fail. But while some of the issues that cause drive failures are out of your control, you can take...
November 17, 2023

Can Static Electricity Really Destroy a Hard Drive? 

At Datarecovery.com, we’ve implemented controls at each of our laboratories to prevent electrostatic damage (ESD) from affecting hard drives, solid-state drives (SSDs), and other devices with exposed printed circuit boards.  When handling storage media, our staff wears electrostatic grounding straps....
October 10, 2023

Ransomware and Social Engineering: Understanding the Link

The terms ransomware and social engineering are sometimes used interchangeably, particularly in news articles about major ransomware attacks.  The confusion is understandable: Many bad actors use social engineering techniques to distribute malicious software. However, social engineering is an attack vector,...
October 4, 2023