Recovering data from an encrypted WD drive (Requires forensics option)
Several Western Digital USB external drives include encryption. This is controlled by a module that also converts the USB to SATA. There can be two issues. ● If the module fails ● If the drive is supplied without the module.
The physical drive may phsycally read OK but the data will be encrypted, and so not be usable.
Such drives include WD Passport Studio
To make life slightly confusing, the user may not realise the drive is encrypted because the never defined a password when first used. Unfortunately, the data will still be encrypted
There are several versions of controller, and the one currently implemented is PLX OXUF943SE. This is written on one of the controller chips on the USB to SATA controller board.