2. Human Error
When it comes to data loss, human error is a major cause. This is why training and ongoing education are of vital importance. But even so, none of it changes the fact that human beings are prone to making mistakes due to stress, lack of sleep, etc.

According to IT professionals, 29% of data loss is due to human error. (source: Storagecraft)
Some malicious, other innocent, but the fact remains that there are several scenarios in which human error can cause data loss:
Overwriting the file by mistake
Due to a lack of experience or not paying attention, someone might overwrite a file without having any malicious intent. Even a simple text editor has the basic ‘save’ function that lets you do this.
Inexperienced use of data recovery tools
The fact of the matter is, even installing hard disk data recovery software could be a problem in and of itself. When you do that, you could potentially overwrite the very segments of the hard drive you’re trying to salvage data from. The proper digital forensics methodology is to make a disk image first as to not overwrite the overwrite any data and preserve the integrity of the .
SalvationDATA’s DRS supports 2 disk imaging modes – . For hard drives with damaged heads, choose the head-imaging option. This will image all data out by skipping any damaged heads, thus making sure that no data is damaged or made irrecoverable during digital forensics investigations.
Formatting the disk without making a backup copy first
Before reinstalling the OS or installing a new one, it’s crucial to backup your data first – otherwise, it will be lost during the process. If you’ve made one before, you could simply do a backup restore in this scenario, but even if you’ve completely forgotten, there is still a way to salvage your data.
Indeed; with proper hard drive recovery tools, it’s possible to recover data even after formatting the hard drive. In fact, DRS can help you out with this, whether you’re dealing with data loss that occurs on the hard drive or storage media (such as a flash drive or a memory card).
Accidental deletion by pressing the wrong button or misclicks
Accidents happen. During work, a user might accidentally delete a file by pressing the ‘delete’ button while the wrong file is selected. In this case, the file can simply be pulled back from the recycle bin. However, the ‘shift+delete’ button combination deletes the file permanently.
In day-to-day life, law enforcement personnel and digital forensics experts often face the need to restore deleted files as a result of someone trying to hide or destroy evidence.
Negligence and improper care
A room that is too hot, too cold, too damp, etc., can have a negative effect on the hard drive. Storing your IT hardware in an inappropriate environment like this can significantly shorten its lifespan. But even in optimal conditions, a user can, for instance, hastily remove the storage media while data is still being written to it, thus inadvertently creating corrupted files.
Failure to back up your data frequently also falls into this category. That’s why data backup and recovery are such important concepts in digital forensics. Whether it be due to malice or genuine human error, a skilled computer forensic expert must be equipped with the right knowledge and tools to handle the situation appropriately.