Cell Phone Help

[Unreal-Wheel]

For anyone that knows stuff about cell phones I have a question:

I had a phone number in my (cell phone) phone book that I called a few times.

I then deleted the number, but now I need it.

Is there anyway to retrieve it, or is it lost forever?

I'm thinking it's lost, but if anyone knows how to get it that would be great!

[dudewithasock]

Most phones have a 'dialed numbers' log...unless you've dialed 15 or 20 numbers since that one, it should still be there.

[Poseidon]

I'm pretty sure it's lost forever.

Sorry man.

[Unreal-Wheel]

Most phones have a 'dialed numbers' log...unless you've dialed 15 or 20 numbers since that one, it should still be there.

Well, I haven't dialed the number for a year:(

[john_childs]

Nothing is ever physically deleted when you delete something on a cell phone or most other flash memory based devices. Actually properly deleting something from a flash memory device is a time consuming and processor consuming process due to the way flash memory works.

So the number is still there in the flash memory. The challenge is in getting forensics or data recovery software that will let you read it.

In practical purposes the number is gone. But if a computer forensics lab wanted to find the number they almost certainly could. So deleting incriminating info from a cell phone is not going to keep the police or a motivated individual from finding the deleted info.

[Unreal-Wheel]

Well I REALLY need it, so where can I find one of these so called "labs"?

[john_childs]

Well I REALLY need it, so where can I find one of these so called "labs"?
Data recovery labs and forensics labs are not cheap. You'd have to really really want that number back and it would have to be worth money to you.

A quick Google turned up this bit of info about a free open source cell phone data recovery application: Cellphone Forensic Software Open Sourced (http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/12/02/1556256&tid=100&tid=185&tid=8)

I don't have experience with any specific data recovery apps for cell phones. All I know about specific apps would be what can be found from Google.

[Unreal-Wheel]

Well thanks anyway

[maestro8]

So the number is still there in the flash memory.
...unless its been overwritten by some other information.

[Unreal-Wheel]

Would this work? (http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Utilities/Backup_and_Copy_Utilities/Sim_Card_Recovery_Download.html)

[UniDudeDX]

Would this work? (http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Utilities/Backup_and_Copy_Utilities/Sim_Card_Recovery_Download.html)
I dont think so bro...sorry

[Unreal-Wheel]

Oh thats the download. I meant this (http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Utilities/Backup_and_Copy_Utilities/Sim_Card_Recovery.html)

[john_childs]

...unless its been overwritten by some other information.
True. But there is something unique about the way flash memory works that makes it less likely that the old data will get overwritten compared to hard drive based systems. I can't recall the details. It was something I read about flash memory some time ago.

IIRC it has something to do with the memory controller that tries to spread out and minimize writes so that one area of the flash memory doesn't get worn out early. Flash memory bits can wear out if written to too many times. So the controller spreads data around on the chip. IIRC it also had to do with the way deleting works on a flash device and how deleting is an expensive operation.

I wonder what the likelihood is that a number in a SIM chip could still be found after a year after it was deleted?

[Unreal-Wheel]

I wonder what the likelihood is that a number in a SIM chip could still be found after a year after it was deleted?

Well the thing is I hardly ever use my cell phone, like maybe one call every two weeks.

[jamessd]

Oh thats the download. I meant this (http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Utilities/Backup_and_Copy_Utilities/Sim_Card_Recovery.html)
I'd steer clear of that website, mcaffee site advisor is telling me it's bad :p

[Unreal-Wheel]

Yeah well......

[jamessd]

http://www.siteadvisor.com/sites/freedownloadscenter.com?ref=safe&client_ver=FF_26.5_6256&locale=en-GB&premium=false&client_type=FF&aff_id=0

[Unreal-Wheel]

It says that it found downloads on the site that could be malicious.

Not that the SIM card program was malicious.