Local Data Recovery and Digital Examination
Embedded Files
Careful recovery, preservation, and documented examination of authorized digital media for individuals, households, and small businesses in Frederick, Maryland. Focused, one-time assistance is available without an ongoing IT-support contract.
Data-Recovery Services
Data-Recovery Services
Deleted-File Recovery
Recovery attempts for documents, photographs, videos, and other files accidentally deleted from supported storage media.
Formatted-Media Recovery
Logical recovery attempts involving hard drives, SSDs, USB devices, and memory cards that were accidentally formatted or contain missing files.
Media Imaging and Preservation
Creation of a controlled working copy or forensic image before examination whenever practical, helping preserve the condition of the original media.
Recovery From the Affected Device
Our work may involve examining the storage media and its available file-system structures for recoverable information. This differs from restoring files from an existing cloud backup or managed backup system.
Supported media may include internal and external hard drives, SSDs, USB flash drives, and SD or other memory cards. Each device must be evaluated individually before service can be accepted.
If important data has recently been deleted or a device was accidentally formatted, stop using the affected device and do not save additional files to it. Continued use may overwrite recoverable information.
How It Works
How It Works
1. Initial Consultation
Tell us what happened, what type of device or media is involved, and which files or information are most important. Please provide only general information through the consultation form. Do not submit passwords, encryption keys, financial information, or sensitive case evidence.
2. Device Evaluation
The device is documented and evaluated to determine whether it appears suitable for non-invasive logical recovery. Devices showing signs of mechanical, electrical, fire, liquid, or other significant physical damage may be declined or referred to a specialized physical-recovery laboratory.
3. Authorized Recovery Attempt
If the device is accepted and the customer approves the proposed scope, recovery work is performed from a forensic image or controlled working copy whenever practical—not directly from the original media. Appropriate write-blocking, acquisition, recovery, and integrity-verification methods are used according to the device and circumstances.
4. Results and Return
Potentially recovered files are evaluated and copied to appropriate destination media supplied or approved for the engagement. The customer receives a plain-language explanation of the work performed, the general results, important limitations, and recommended next steps.
Every recovery matter is different. An evaluation or recovery attempt does not guarantee that any particular file, folder structure, amount of data, or usable content can be recovered.
Security Log Review and Incident Triage
Security Log Review and Incident Triage
Frederick Data Forensics provides focused, one-time review of authorized system, endpoint, authentication, account, and network records associated with a defined technical concern. Focused assistance is available without requiring an ongoing managed-IT or security-monitoring agreement.
A review may help identify and document:
Unfamiliar or unexpected account sign-ins
Suspicious processes, executable files, or scheduled tasks
Unexpected startup or persistence mechanisms
Relevant file, account, or system-setting changes
Available indicators of unauthorized access
An apparent sequence or timeline of observable events
Technical information that may warrant preservation or referral
For example, available records may show that an account with permission to make system changes signed in from an unfamiliar internet address and subsequently accessed, changed, or deleted specified files or settings. For an individual or household, the review could involve an authorized personal computer, home network, email account, or other device.
The resulting report explains what the available records show, what activity can be technically supported, what remains uncertain, and what practical next steps may be appropriate. It does not claim to identify an unknown person or determine intent, criminal responsibility, or legal liability.
Practical Remediation Assistance
When suspicious activity is identified and the customer provides separate authorization, Frederick Data Forensics may assist with containing or removing validated malicious or unwanted processes, executable files, persistence mechanisms, scheduled tasks, startup entries, or other identified artifacts.
Relevant information will be preserved before changes are made whenever practical. Authorized remediation actions and any resulting limitations will be documented.
If the available information indicates a broader compromise or an ongoing security concern, Frederick Data Forensics will explain the findings and recommend appropriate next steps. Depending on the circumstances, that may include additional preservation, authorized remediation, continued assessment, or referral to a managed security provider, specialized incident-response firm, legal counsel, insurer, financial institution, or law-enforcement agency.
This service is designed for defined technical concerns and one-time assessments. Customers who require ongoing monitoring, routine IT administration, penetration testing, or enterprise-scale incident response will be informed when those services would be more appropriate.
Methods and Service Boundaries
Methods and Service Boundaries
Frederick Data Forensics selects examination methods according to the authorized scope, available information, device condition, and technical needs of each matter. Work may involve native system utilities, established forensic and security tools, and other appropriate methods used to collect, preserve, parse, correlate, validate, and explain relevant technical information.
Tools may include, but are not limited to, Windows Event Viewer, PowerShell, EvtxECmd, Hayabusa, Chainsaw, Timeline Explorer, FTK Imager, Autopsy, The Sleuth Kit, and appropriate hashing or file-system utilities. No single tool is treated as conclusive in every situation, and additional methods may be used when appropriate.
Logical and Physical-Recovery Boundaries
Frederick Data Forensics provides non-invasive logical recovery and digital-media examination. We do not open sealed hard drives, replace internal drive components, repair damaged circuit boards, or perform clean-room recovery.
A device that clicks, grinds, fails to spin, repeatedly disconnects, or has sustained significant physical, fire, electrical, or liquid damage should be powered off immediately. Such a device may require referral to a specialized physical-recovery laboratory.
Authorization and Professional Scope
Services are limited to devices, systems, accounts, records, and information that the customer owns or is legally authorized to provide. Examination is conducted only within the documented and agreed scope.
Frederick Data Forensics does not provide private-investigator services, covert surveillance, legal representation, legal opinions, or threat-actor attribution. Matters involving anticipated litigation, formal employee investigations, or legal disputes may require additional review and coordination with qualified legal or investigative professionals before work can be accepted.
Uncertainty and Results
Data recovery and digital examination are inherently dependent on the condition of the available device, records, and information. No particular file, amount of data, technical finding, or recovery result can be guaranteed.
Customers receive an honest assessment of what can be supported by the available information, the limitations encountered, and the reasonable next steps identified during the engagement.
About Frederick Data Forensics
About Frederick Data Forensics
Frederick Data Forensics, L.L.C. is an owner-operated data-recovery and digital-examination company based in Frederick, Maryland.
The company provides individuals, households, small businesses, professionals, and local technology providers with a careful and clearly documented option for recovering lost data, preserving digital media, and examining defined technical concerns.
Each engagement begins with an honest assessment of the requested work, the condition of the available device or records, the customer’s authorization, and whether the matter falls within the company’s current technical and professional capabilities. Work is accepted only when an appropriate scope can be established and the available methods are suitable for the matter.
Owner Chris Floyd holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Forensics and Digital Investigations from Champlain College, a SANS Applied Cybersecurity Certificate, and multiple GIAC certifications covering cybersecurity fundamentals, incident handling, enterprise defense, and forensic examination. He is continuing his education through graduate study in digital forensics and cyber investigations.
The company’s approach emphasizes careful handling, documented procedures, customer privacy, technical integrity, practical communication, and findings explained in language the customer can understand.
A Public-Safety Approach to Digital Protection
A Public-Safety Approach to Digital Protection
Before founding Frederick Data Forensics, Chris Floyd served the public as a firefighter and fire inspector with the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department.
That experience developed a lasting commitment to prevention, public education, careful documentation, and helping people make informed decisions during stressful situations. Public safety is not limited to responding after something goes wrong—it also involves recognizing hazards, explaining risks clearly, preserving important information, and helping people prevent additional harm.
Frederick Data Forensics applies those same principles to data recovery and digital safety. Whether someone is trying to recover important files, evaluating a suspicious message, responding to a possible scam, or attempting to understand a technical concern, the objective is to provide calm, respectful, methodical, and practical assistance.
Technology changes, but the underlying commitment remains the same: help people understand the situation, protect what matters, and determine an appropriate path forward.
Professional Certifications
Professional Certifications
Frederick Data Forensics is operated by Chris Floyd, who holds five GIAC cybersecurity and digital-forensics certifications. These certifications require demonstrated knowledge through independently administered examinations and reflect training across incident handling, enterprise defense, cybersecurity fundamentals, and forensic examination.
GIAC Certified Forensic Examiner (GCFE) — Windows-based digital forensic examination and analysis
GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH) — Incident identification, response, containment, and attacker techniques
GIAC Certified Enterprise Defender (GCED) — Defensive security, network protection, and enterprise threat response
GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC) — Applied information-security knowledge and defensive practices
GIAC Foundational Cybersecurity Technologies (GFACT) — Foundational computing, networking, operating-system, and security concepts
Certification names, issue dates, and current status can be independently verified through the linked Credly profile.
Privacy and Authorized Access
Privacy and Authorized Access
Customer privacy, lawful authorization, and careful handling are fundamental requirements of every engagement.
Customers must own—or have documented legal authority to provide—the device, system, account, records, or data submitted for examination. Proof of identity, ownership, or authorization may be requested before work begins.
Information submitted through the initial consultation form is used to evaluate the request and communicate with the prospective customer. Do not submit passwords, verification codes, recovery keys, financial-account information, government identification numbers, confidential evidence, complete log files, or sensitive file contents through the public form or ordinary email.
When sensitive information or credentials are legitimately required for authorized work, an appropriate exchange method and handling procedure will be established separately.
Accepted work is governed by a written service agreement describing the authorized scope, handling procedures, fees, limitations, customer responsibilities, delivery process, and disposition of customer data and media.
Case materials may be maintained within access-controlled, encrypted business storage and separated according to their role in the examination. Customer content is retained only for the applicable service, delivery, review, preservation, contractual, or legal period.
Not Sure Whether Your Situation Fits?
Not Sure Whether Your Situation Fits?
That is perfectly acceptable. Describe the device, data-loss event, suspicious activity, or other technical concern through the initial consultation form using general, nonsensitive information.
Frederick Data Forensics will review the request and explain whether it appears to fall within the company’s current capabilities, whether additional information is needed, and what an appropriate next step may be.
Focused, one-time assistance is available without requiring an ongoing IT-support agreement. If the matter requires physical clean-room recovery, continuous monitoring, enterprise-scale incident response, legal services, or another capability outside the current scope, that limitation will be explained and an appropriate referral may be recommended when possible.
Submitting the consultation form does not establish a service agreement, authorize access to a device or account, guarantee acceptance of the matter, or guarantee a particular result.
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