Chip Off Machines for Forensics

What Are Chip Off Machines Used for in Forensics?

Chip off machines are used to extract data from a digital device when that data is otherwise difficult to retrieve. If you've ever had your tablet or phone crash on you, you know how vital it is to have an effective way to recover data from the device.

When it comes to forensics, chip off technology can be extremely useful in recovering data from digital device owners who are unable or unwilling for various reasons to retrieve the data themselves. Examples might be retrieving “deleted” texts that discuss a crime that has been committed, proving that somebody has been viewing illegal or stolen material on their device or demonstrating that someone was using their phone while driving.

While there are other ways to extract data that the user has attempted to delete or hide by destroying the device, chip off technology has been shown to succeed where other methods have failed and to generate the most accurate images of hidden data. If you work in digital forensics or your business brings you into contact with those who regularly use digital forensics, it can be extremely useful to understand this technology, the chip off process and how to make use of it.
 

How Do Chip Off Machines Work?

When you're faced with a device on which the data seems irretrievable — most notably when it's so badly damaged physically that it doesn't work at all — chip off forensics can come to the rescue. Those in the data retrieval field may first try other, simpler data extraction methods — such as JTAG — but chip off technology tends to work when all else has failed.

Also, if you're in a situation where you need to preserve the state of memory exactly as it exists, such as when that state of memory is crucial evidence in a legal matter, computer forensic professionals may opt to go straight to attempting a chip off data extraction.

The goal of chip off extraction is to remove the flash memory chip from the device and extract the raw data directly from that chip using special chip off equipment that's designed specifically for this purpose. This amazing technology can allow you to extract a total physical image of the device in question. The process for extracting raw data from a device using chip off technology is as follows:

1. First, the chip off technician physically removes the flash memory chip. This process can be completed with a combination of heat and solvent applications, specifically de-soldering and adhesive removal.
2. Once the chip off technicians have removed the chip carefully and safely, the next step is to carefully clean the chip and repair any damage it has incurred. Then, the technician uses special imaging technology, such as chip programmers and adapters, to pull a copy of the raw data from the chip. The raw forensic image that's produced is then subject to analysis with a variety of forensic tools and utilities to extract the exact data that had been stored on the device.

The amount of time it takes to successfully extract and analyze data using chip off techniques can vary according to a number of factors, including the equipment the extractor is using and the level of training of the chip off expert. With a standard chip off project with well-trained professionals and quality equipment, it should be possible to turn around a chip off project in a matter of a few days or less.

A good chip off team with the right chip off equipment can have as high as a 99 percent success rate retrieving data from damaged devices.
 

What Types of Chip Off Equipment Are There?

Some of the tools commonly used in chip off projects can include hot-air rework stations, soldering stations, infrared rework stations, digital convection ovens, preheaters, BGA stencils, solder balls or solder paste, cleaning solvents, de-soldering braid and stereo microscopes.
 

What Devices Do Chip Off Machines Work With?

While the most popular use of chip off machines is to extract data from a mobile device like a smartphone, you can use the equipment to extract data from virtually any device that uses flash memory, including OneNAND, eMMC, NOR, NAND. Types of devices that chip off technicians have used chip off machines to extract data from include everything from tablets and USB drives to gaming systems, digital voice recorders, vehicle components, GPS units and more.
 

Can You Be Trained to Use a Chip Off Machine?

As you can see, having the ability to utilize this technology can be extremely useful in a number of industries, whether you intend to use the technology internally or provide it as a service. Fortunately, the answer is yes, chip off training from qualified instructors is available through Precision PCB Services, Inc. right now. We offer customized courses to fit your specific training needs, with small classes on a variety of PCB-related topics every day.

Precision PCB Services, Inc. can also help you and your business with many of the PCB Rework products and repair services that you may use in chip off projects.

To schedule chip off training for your staff, or for more information about high-quality PCB rework and repair services, call us at 888-406-2830 or contact us online today — we'll be happy to help as soon as you get in touch with us.