Storage technology shifts as experts warn of data corruption risks

The IT industry is approaching a shift in storage technology, with several aging media types expected to become obsolete by 2026. Experts warn of 'bit rot'—the gradual corruption of data on legacy media. In hard disk drives (HDDs), magnetic bits can lose alignment over time, while solid-state drives (SSDs) face risks of charge loss in memory cells if left unpowered for extended periods.

To mitigate these risks, professionals recommend the 3-2-1 rule: maintaining three copies of data on at least two different media types, with one copy stored off-site.

In response to evolving hardware and file systems, Wondershare announced Recoverit V15 for Windows and Mac on September 23, 2026. The software introduces professional SD card recovery, AI-powered search capabilities, and automated assessments of recovery quality.