WILDFIRE DATA RECOVERY
Forensic Data Recovery Services & Decryption Services
"We Unlock What Others Cannot."
Chip-off, and Jailbreaking Techniques
Encryption Bypass, Memory Analysis, and Forensic Data Extraction
Cellebrite, MAGNET AXIOM, Oxygen Forensic Detective plus many more forensic tools available
Court-Qualified Experts
World-Class Forensic Tools
Certified Engineers
"Welcome to Wildfire Data Recovery, Brisbane's trusted provider of expert forensic data recovery solutions. We specialise in examining digital evidence from mobile, cloud, computer, and vehicle sources, alongside third-party extractions all in one case file."
At Wildfire Data Recovery, we specialise in advanced forensic device unlocking and decryption services that go far beyond standard data recovery. Our team of certified forensic examiners utilise cutting-edge techniques including JTAG programming, chip-off recovery, memory analysis, and sophisticated encryption bypass methods to access locked devices when traditional methods fail.
Comprehensive digital evidence recovery from all sources. We recover what others can't find.
From forgotten iPhone passcodes to complex BitLocker encryption, APFS encrypted volumes to advanced Android KNOX security measures, we have the expertise and equipment to unlock what others cannot. Our services are designed for legitimate access scenarios, from government-led projects to personal commercial investigations and police assistance.
APFS MAC ENCRYPTION
COMPLEX ANDROID UNLOCK
BITLOCKER ENCRYPTION
BRISBANE'S LEADING FORENSIC DATA RECOVERY SPECIALISTS
Our forensic team maintains the highest level of professional certifications in the digital forensics industry. Each of our senior engineers holds multiple certifications from leading forensic software vendors and undergoes quarterly recertification training to stay current with evolving security measures and bypass techniques. You can see some of our most prominent ones below:
Vendor-Specific Certifications:
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Certified Computer Forensics Examiner
Top-Tier Forensic Certifications:
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EnCE (EnCase Certified Examiner)
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GCFA (GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst)
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GCFE (GIAC Certified Forensic Examiner)
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CCFE (Certified Computer Forensics Examiner)
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CCE (Certified Computer Examiner) - Provided by the International Society of Forensic
With over 45 years of collective expertise in digital forensics, our team has built an impressive track record of success across more than 4,200 completed cases. Our experience ranges from routine password recovery services to intricate corporate investigations requiring the analysis of multiple interconnected devices, encrypted databases, and complex digital evidence trails.
Call now for a cost free quote
HOW TO GET YOUR DEVICE TO US FOR FREE DIAGNOSIS:
"Before You Ship: Please call us first at 1300 806 557 to discuss your case and receive a unique case reference number OR click on the Australia Post Icon box below. This ensures we're expecting your device and can prioritise your recovery."
OPTIONAL - Complete Our Online Postage Form: Fill out our secure online POSTAGE FORM with your device details, contact information, and description of the problem. This creates your case file and provides shipping instructions specific to your device type.
Need to send in your device? Click on the above Australia Post icon for FREE postage.
Packaging Your Device:
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Turn off your device completely (do not attempt to turn it on if it's already off)
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If it's a mobile phone, remove the SIM card and keep it safe
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Wrap the device in bubble wrap or soft material
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Place in a sturdy box with additional padding around all sides
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Print and include the postage form you completed online, or include a note with your case reference number, contact details, and brief description of the problem
Free Express Postage: Once approved for postage, you'll receive an email from us containing a FREE Australia Post Express postage label as a PDF attachment. This includes full tracking and express delivery at no cost to you.
NOTE: Shipping Address - (Brisbane Forensic Office IS NOT LISTED)
We do not publicly list our forensic data recovery laboratory to ensure the highest level of confidentiality, security, and data protection for our clients. This also helps prevent any risk of intimidation or physical interference from involved parties, ensuring our engineers can work without external pressure or threats—especially in sensitive legal, criminal, or corporate investigations.
WHAT IS FORENSIC DATA RECOVERY?
"Forensic data recovery isn't just about retrieving files — it's about uncovering the digital truth, even when someone tried to erase it."
Data forensics, also known as computer forensics, refers to the study or investigation of digital data and how it is created and used. Data forensics is a broad term, as it encompasses identifying, preserving, recovering, analysing, and presenting attributes of digital information. In regard to data recovery, data forensics can be conducted on mobile devices, computers, servers, and any other storage device.
Data forensics can also be used in instances involving the tracking of phone calls, texts, or emails travelling through a network. Digital forensics professionals may use decryption, reverse engineering, advanced system searches, and other high-level analysis in their data forensics process.
WHAT MAKES WILDFIRE DATA THE BEST CHOICE FOR FORENSIC CASES:
DIGITAL EVIDENCE: UNDERSTANDING TWO CRITICAL DATA TYPES
In data forensics, investigators must navigate two distinct categories of digital evidence. Understanding these differences is crucial for successful recovery and analysis.
Persistent Data
Persistent data refers to information that is permanently saved on storage devices like hard drives, SSDs, and other forms of media. This type of data remains intact even after a computer is shut down or loses power. Due to its enduring nature, it is generally easier to locate, safeguard, and examine. Even if such data is deleted, it can often still be recovered using specialised forensic tools.
Persistent data is durable and remains accessible until it is deliberately overwritten or destroyed. It can survive system restarts and power failures, making it easier to locate, preserve, and examine during forensic investigations. Even when users attempt to delete this data, specialised forensic tools can often recover it, providing valuable insights.
Common Examples of Persistent Data:
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Files and Documents: These include items like Word documents, PDF files, images, and spreadsheets.
- Databases: This includes structured data in SQL databases, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and accounting software.
- Browser History: This can involve cached web pages, files that have been downloaded, and saved login credentials.
- Email Archives: These are stored emails, including attachments and associated contact lists.
Forensic Importance of Persistent Data:
Persistent data plays a critical role in digital forensic investigations. Since it remains stored on devices even after shutdowns or reboots, investigators can analyse this data to uncover evidence of user activity, communications, transactions, and other digital footprints. Its recoverability—even after intentional deletion—makes it a primary target during forensic data acquisition and analysis. By using specialised tools and techniques, experts can often retrieve deleted or hidden persistent data to support legal, criminal, or internal investigations.
OUR FORENSIC RECOVERY, GOLDEN RULES:
Effective data recovery requires not only advanced tools but also strict adherence to best practices to protect data integrity, maximise recovery success, and maintain legal defensibility, particularly in forensic cases. The following are widely accepted best practices for data recovery teams:
1. Follow the Principle of 'Do No Harm'
Always ensure the original device is preserved in its current state. Avoid any unnecessary power-ons or software scans directly on the device. Where possible, create a forensic-grade sector-by-sector image first, working only from this clone.
2. Perform Comprehensive Diagnostics Before Action
At Wildfire Data Recovery, we begin every recovery case with a complete diagnostic process to identify whether the issue is physical, electrical, firmware, or logical. This prevents incorrect actions that could worsen the damage or jeopardise data.
3. Prioritise Imaging Over Logical Repairs
Always perform a complete bit-by-bit image of the affected device before attempting any file system repairs or data extraction. Imaging captures the data exactly as it exists, including damaged sectors, ensuring nothing is lost during the recovery process.
4. Use Write-Blockers and Forensic Tools When Needed
In forensic or sensitive cases, use certified write-blockers and forensic acquisition tools to prevent accidental changes to the source device. Always document the tool versions and settings used.
5. Handle Encryption with Caution
When our engineers work with encrypted devices, they carefully preserve metadata, headers, and key sectors essential for decryption. Any corruption to these areas can render all data unrecoverable.
6. Maintain Chain of Custody and Documentation
For every recovery job, especially forensic ones, maintain a detailed log of all steps taken, including images captured, tools used, hashes generated, and technician notes. This ensures transparency, legal defensibility, and repeatability.
Our forensic division is led by ACE Lab Certified Engineers, IACRB-certified forensic analysts, and ADISA-qualified data recovery professionals with real-world experience in digital investigations. Our team brings together backgrounds in cybersecurity, mobile forensics, electronics engineering, and advanced data carving. We routinely work with sensitive cases that demand not just technical skill, but discretion, attention to chain-of-custody, and the ability to provide detailed, expert-level reporting.
NO DATA? NO FEE POLICY!
Call now for a free quote
THE DATA FORENSICS INVESTIGATION PROCESS
At Wildfire Data Recovery, when we undertake a forensic investigation, we follow a strict four-stage methodology that reflects the same standards used by global law enforcement, government, and enterprise organisations.
Our engineers understand that evidence integrity and procedural rigour are paramount, and from the moment your device enters our lab, we treat it as critical evidence—meticulously protected, verified, and documented at every stage.
1. ACQUISITION
The first phase is Acquisition, where our engineers create a forensic image of your device. This isn't just a standard backup or copy. We use specialised hardware write-blockers, ensuring your original data is never altered, even at the microscopic level.
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ISOLATION: By isolating the device from any writing capabilities, we protect the integrity of the evidence from the start. Throughout this process, we log every handling of your device, building a chain of custody that documents precisely who, when, and how the evidence was accessed.
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HASHING: To ensure that the copy we work from is an exact, mathematically verifiable duplicate of your device, we calculate cryptographic hashes like SHA-256, which act as digital fingerprints. This means any changes, no matter how small, would be immediately detectable.
2. EXAMINATION
Once we have your forensic image, our engineers begin the Examination phase. This is where we extract, process, and sift through the data. Using forensic-grade tools like Magnet Forensic, Cellebrite UFED or Digital Collector, Belkasoft, Autopsy, and Oxygen Forensic Detective. We recover deleted files, reconstruct timelines, and expose hidden artifacts that can reveal crucial insights.
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It’s not just about the files you can see—it's about uncovering the files you can't see, the traces left behind in system logs, metadata, and residual data that often tell the real story. We also look for patterns, run keyword searches, and map connections across multiple data sources, giving us a broader picture of digital behaviour and activity on the device.
Some of the forensic tools we use to aid our clients in obtaining forensic data from mobile phones, tablets and hard drives.
From there, our team moves into ANALYSIS, where we interpret and correlate the evidence we've gathered. This is where our engineers use their investigative skills to cross-reference data, reconstruct user actions, and establish clear timelines of events.
We aim to answer the key investigative questions you or your legal team might have—what happened, when, how, and who was involved. This stage often involves analysing behaviour patterns, identifying anomalies, and testing theories against the evidence at hand. Our goal is always to produce findings that are defensible, evidence-backed, and leave no room for speculation.
An example of our forensic toolkit onsite carry-bag.
These badges represent certifications issued by Cellebrite, a global leader in digital intelligence and forensic tools.
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CCO (Cellebrite Certified Operator) – This certification demonstrates that the holder is proficient in using Cellebrite’s UFED (Universal Forensic Extraction Device) tools to perform logical and physical extractions from mobile devices. It validates basic hands-on skills in mobile data acquisition.
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CCPA (Cellebrite Certified Physical Analyst) – This advanced certification confirms expertise in analysing extracted data from mobile devices. It focuses on in-depth forensic analysis, data carving, timeline reconstruction, and understanding complex artefacts using Cellebrite Physical Analyzer.
Together, these certifications validate both data extraction and forensic analysis skills essential for mobile phone forensic investigations.
3. REPORTING
Finally, in the Reporting stage, we turn our technical findings into clear, concise, and court-ready reports. Whether it's an executive summary for your board, a technical breakdown for your IT department, or legal affidavits prepared for litigation, our engineers ensure that the presentation of the data is appropriate for your audience.
Where needed, we support our reports with visual diagrams, reconstructed event timelines, and actionable recommendations to strengthen your organisation's security posture or assist in legal proceedings.
Throughout the entire process, we apply the same quality assurance protocols that have earned Wildfire Data Recovery a reputation for precision and integrity. Every stage of the investigation is documented, the chain of custody is maintained from start to finish, and the integrity of the data is verified at each step through hash validation.
Our engineers keep exhaustive logs of every action taken, ensuring that our work can stand up to scrutiny in any forum—whether it’s court, regulatory inquiry, or an internal investigation.
"Forensic data recovery isn't just about retrieving files — it's about uncovering the digital truth, even when someone tried to erase it."
Viktor Burcevski - Owner WDR
Certified forensic analysts are trained to follow internationally recognised protocols for imaging, analysis, evidence handling, and reporting — ensuring that nothing is altered, omitted, or improperly obtained. Without these certifications, evidence could be dismissed as inadmissible, or worse, compromise the integrity of an investigation.
NOTE: This Cellebrite workflow enables our expert forensic team to recover critical data from locked or inaccessible phones and tablets, even when traditional methods fail. By using the Cellebrite Advanced Access Adapter, we can interface directly with the device at a low level—bypassing certain security restrictions like lock screens and even full device encryption
The connected UFED 4PC + Premium as a Service software then performs advanced data extraction, including physical and file system-level access, often retrieving deleted messages, app data, and media that would otherwise be lost.
OUR WILDFIRE DATA - EXPERT FORENSIC RECOVERY TIPS & METHODS
Click on the below + to show much more detail and some real-world, forensic cases Wildifre Data Recovery has performed for our clients.
Faster file-system extraction - Cellebrite Premium ES
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With Cellebrite Inseyets UFED, Physical Extractor plus much more, we're able to perform faster, deeper, and more reliable file-system extractions from both iOS and Android devices, including those that are locked or disabled. This means we can access the internal data structures of a phone or tablet—far beyond what’s available through standard backups or logical extractions.
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This platform supports the widest range of mobile devices on the market, including the latest iPhones and Samsung models, and is capable of bypassing lock screens and encryption in lawful, controlled environments. Once unlocked, we can recover everything from deleted text messages and app data to photos, call logs, browser history, and even secured content stored in hidden or encrypted areas of the file system.
For a full list of devices, tablets and other media we support, please follow the link to our Forensic Support Page.
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Cellebrite Inseyets for Enterprise is a powerful tool that provides critical mobile data access on iOS and Android devices. It offers:
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full file system access,
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physical extractions, and
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entry to highly secure areas like iOS Keychain and Secure Folder.
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cloud backups,
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This expands data collection beyond logical extraction, ensuring efficient report generation with high data defensibility. Moreover, it enhances evidence discovery by accessing data from over 50 cloud sources, including ephemeral messaging apps, application usage, location data, device-stored emails, logs, and deleted content.
FORENSIC DATA RECOVERY SERVICES WE OFFER
Wildfire Data Recovery's Brisbane laboratory delivers comprehensive digital forensics services across all platforms and devices. Our ISO 27001 certified facility combines industry-leading tools, expert analysis, and 24/7 emergency response.
At our data recovery centre, we prioritize the confidentiality and security of your data. We employ stringent data privacy protocols and ensure a safe and secure environment for the recovery process. We believe in transparent communication and keep you informed throughout the recovery process, providing detailed updates on the status of your data retrieval.
Whether you're an individual user or a business owner relying on your iMac or MacBook for critical operations, we tailor our services to meet your specific needs. Our goal is to provide you with a seamless data recovery experience and restore your lost data in the quickest and most efficient manner possible.
Wildfire Data Recovery has proven its ability to recover data from iMacs, MacBook Pros, and MacBook Airs even in the most challenging situations, thanks to our technical expertise and powerful tools. Modern Apple computers are equipped with SSDs for improved performance and are powered by either an Apple M-series chip or an Intel processor. Moreover, recent SSDs in Apple’s notebook computers have hardware-based encryption to protect user's private data. However, retrieving the encrypted files can be a complicated process that requires the assistance of experts in Apple laptop data recovery. This is where Wildfire Data Recovery can help.
iMac Mini Data Recovery
Mac mini with M2 Chip
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Mac mini (M2, 2023)
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Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023)
Mac mini Models for Data Recovery
Mac mini (Intel-Based Models)
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Mac mini (Early 2006)
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Mac mini (Late 2006)
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Mac mini (Mid 2007)
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Mac mini (Early 2009)
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Mac mini (Late 2009)
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Mac mini (Mid 2010)
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Mac mini (Mid 2011)
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Mac mini (Late 2012)
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Mac mini (Late 2014)
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Mac mini (2018)
Mac mini with M1 Chip
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Mac mini (M1, 2020)
Services We Provide for These Models
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Recovery from Fusion Drives, SSDs, and HDDs
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Restoration of data lost due to macOS failures, including failed updates and reinstallation issues
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Resolution of APFS and HFS+ file system corruption
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Data recovery from encrypted drives, including T2 and Secure Enclave systems
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Hardware-related recovery for logic board failures, drive failures, or storage device malfunctions
If your Mac mini model isn’t listed here, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team can create a customised recovery plan based on your specific needs and hardware configuration.
Mac mini: A small, standalone desktop computer introduced in 2005, which requires an external display, keyboard, and mouse. The latest Mac mini models include: Mac mini (M1, 2020): Introduced with Apple’s M1 chip. Mac mini (M2, 2023) and Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023): These models are the latest as of 2023.
Mac mini Models for Data Recovery
Mac Pro Data Recovery Models
iMac Pro (2017)
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iMac Pro (2017, 8-Core)
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iMac Pro (2017, 10-Core)
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iMac Pro (2017, 14-Core)
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iMac Pro (2017, 18-Core)
Apple’s workstation-class desktop is designed for the most demanding professional workloads.
Services We Provide for These Models
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Recovery from APFS file systems and encrypted drives, including T2 chip-secured storage
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Restoration of data from Fusion Drives, SSDs, and HDDs
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Recovery from macOS-specific issues, such as failed updates, corrupted volumes, or installation errors
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Data retrieval following logic board failures, hardware malfunctions, or SSD controller issues
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Advanced diagnostics and customised recovery solutions for professional workloads, such as video editing files, CAD designs, or large-scale datasets
While we can help in many situations, unfortunately, data recovery isn't always possible from all models of APPLE iMac, MacBook or MacBook Pro devices. Please get in touch with our data recovery team if you want to know if your device is supported.
A NOTE ON MACBOOK DATA RECOVERY AND DATA ENCRYPTION:
"All modern Apple devices, including iPhones and iPads, feature a robust hardware-based encryption layer integrated into the device, ensuring the security of user data."
MacBooks employ a comprehensive range of encryption technologies to fortify data security and privacy. At the core is FileVault, a full-disk encryption system utilizing XTS-AES-128 encryption with a 256-bit key, safeguarding the entire startup disk and its contents, including the operating system and applications. This encryption is facilitated through the Apple File System (APFS), ensuring robust protection of data at rest. Complementing this, Apple integrates a Secure Enclave, particularly on T2 chip-equipped MacBooks, managing encryption keys and bolstering the security of various operations.
iCloud data, encompassing photos, documents, and backups, is handled through end-to-end encryption, guaranteeing that only authorized users possess the decryption keys. Additionally, features like Messages, FaceTime, and Keychain implement end-to-end encryption, further solidifying data privacy. Secure Boot and UEFI Secure Boot mechanisms, alongside Gatekeeper and Code Signing, fortify the integrity of the operating system and applications, ensuring a robust defence against unauthorized access and tampering. These layers of encryption collectively establish a formidable defence, assuring users of the highest levels of data protection and system security on their MacBooks.
Wildfire Data Recovery specialists face a daunting task when attempting to recover data from MacBooks due to these strong encryption measures. We help find the necessary encryption keys or decrypt recovery mechanisms.
APPLE SECURE ENCLAVE
The Secure Enclave is a dedicated secure subsystem in the latest versions of iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch and HomePod. The Secure Enclave is a dedicated secure subsystem integrated into Apple systems on chip (SoCs). The Secure Enclave is isolated from the main processor to provide an extra layer of security and is designed to keep sensitive user data secure even when the Application Processor kernel becomes compromised. It follows the same design principles as the SoC does — a Boot ROM to establish a hardware root of trust, an AES engine for efficient and secure cryptographic operations and protected memory. Although the Secure Enclave doesn’t include storage, it has a mechanism to store information securely on attached storage separate from the NAND flash storage that’s used by the Application Processor and operating system.
The Secure Enclave is a hardware feature of most versions of iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch and HomePod — namely:
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iPhone 5s or later
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iPad Air or later
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MacBook Pro computers with Touch Bar (2016 and 2017) that contain the Apple T1 Chip
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Intel-based Mac computers that contain the Apple T2 Security Chip
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Mac computers with Apple silicon
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Apple TV HD or later
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Apple Watch Series 1 or later
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HomePod and HomePod mini
SECURE ENCLAVE PROCESSOR
The Secure Enclave Processor provides the main computing power for the Secure Enclave. To provide the strongest isolation, the Secure Enclave Processor is dedicated solely for Secure Enclave use. This helps prevent side-channel attacks that depend on malicious software sharing the same execution core as the target software under attack.
The Secure Enclave Processor runs an Apple-customised version of the L4 microkernel. It’s designed to operate efficiently at a lower clock speed which helps to protect it against clock and power attacks. The Secure Enclave Processor, starting with the A11 and S4, includes a memory-protected engine and encrypted memory with anti-replay capabilities, secure boot, a dedicated random number generator and its own AES engine.
"You may only get one shot at recovering your precious data...so choose wisely."
IMPLEMENTATION AND DESIGN OF A DISASTER RECOVERY PLAN:
Data recovery services, such as those provided by Wildfire Data Recovery, are crucial for small and medium-sized businesses. Having a data recovery plan should be as critical as proper accountkeeping. Why is having an Apple MAC data recovery services plan crucial for your business, particularly for MacBook Pro and MacBook series machines?
❗️Given the intricate nature of RAID systems and the potential impact of data loss, professional data recovery services and RAID data recovery plans, play a vital role in successfully recovering critical data, minimizing downtime, and ensuring the integrity and availability of valuable information for businesses.
DATA RECOVERY PRICING
CALL TODAY FOR A CUSTOM QUOTE
Our prices START at $190, depending on the reason and complexity of the failure. All data recovery pricing is based on complexity. Therefore the more complex the issue, the higher the cost for data recovery and the longer it may take to recover. Our services also have faster Priority, and Emergency Service options which can have a higher cost in order to push your device at "the front of the line" to get faster results. These options are usually taken up by our business and corporate clients. In summary, cost will depend on the type of problem your hard drive presents to us with and how quickly you need the data back. We offer a FREE assessment and quote on all recoveries.
At Wildfire DATA Recovery we never provide an official quote until our engineers have had an opportunity to diagnose your hard drive within our workshop. While we can provide estimations based on our client's descriptions of their hard drive issues, these will most likely change once our engineers evaluate your hard drive.
CALL TODAY FOR A FREE CUSTOM QUOTE
About Us
Founded in Brisbane in 2018 by certified digital forensic specialist Viktor Burcevski, Wildfire has become Australia’s trusted name in complex forensic data recovery. Whether assisting law firms, corporate clients, government departments, or grieving families, our mission is to retrieve and preserve the invisible digital footprints left behind — with the precision, confidentiality, and legal validity required in the courtroom.
Get a Quote
Please fill in the below details and click send. Within a few minutes, one of our engineers will contact you and guide you through the process of data recovery. No upfront costs, no obligation, just results.