Is a deleted email really deleted or not?

@gtdonna (1738)
March 16, 2011 6:44pm CST
With the latest in internet technology, do you honestly believe that when you delete an email and then empty your trash folder that email or emails are truly deleted, gone forever? I do not! I have heard so many stories of police and CIA, FBI etc using computers to gather evidence, even though many of those evidences were supposedly deleted, weeks, sometimes months ago. What are your thoughts about this?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
17 Mar 11
Well that is to be expected. Until the hard drive is pretty much blown to bits, it is still retrievable. Or fried beyond belief. There are all kinds of tips and tricks to get ahold of e-mails that we thought were deleted. Everything that is done on the computer leaves a bit of trail. Which can be used for both good and bad to say the very least. So yeah its not visible but there is still a way to get it back. Its just a very technical process that Joe Computer User is not going to be able to do, but someone who does it for a living and knows how to get in there will be able to get it back despite the fact that we think it is lost. So unless the hard drive containing the e-mail is completely trashed, on all parties, then there is really no way to cover your tracks completely.
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@gtdonna (1738)
29 May 11
Is even blowing the hard drive to bits safe? these days nothing seems ot be safe anymore. one has to be super careful
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
17 Mar 11
I believe that deleted emails may have gone for us but I am almost certain that our ISP provider can more than likely locate. I guess that is why we should take great care of everything we type on our computers because there is a good chance that it is out there forever and not likely to ever go away!
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@gtdonna (1738)
29 May 11
Yep! Scary thought to think that something can come back and haunt you
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@jimmysun (401)
• China
17 Mar 11
i think when you delete the e-mails in you email folder, at first i just think it has been deleted and also i cannot find it...but for IT people, they can also find the deleted e-mails easily...so to delete the e-mails from our e-mail account just a formal not truly be deleted...
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@gtdonna (1738)
29 May 11
Yep, I use to think the same too and then I learn more about the ocmputer and fully understand nothing is ever truly deleted.
• Philippines
30 May 11
Well that is possible maybe considering how the intelligence guys can find their way just to know person's or group of persons' activities. But I don't they would waste their time on me, I'm just a simple lady here who is spending much of her time playing facebook games while engaging in an online career with myLot. I say it happens, it is possible and it is easy for some people to do it. (^_^)
• United States
17 Mar 11
Hi gtdonna Although we delete emails from out trash folder and no where to be found, ISP providers can certainly find them. But no one can simply ask for them they need to be court ordered to get them.
@gtdonna (1738)
29 May 11
Oh yes? Didn't know you can't ask your ISP for deleted emails...hmmm something to think about
@kwylima (451)
• United States
17 Mar 11
The host website owner they have everything with them. It is deleted just for you..I mean you think it is deleted but they can keep everything and then when fbi or others want to investigate you so it is easy to them to find it! everything stay somewhere!
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@gtdonna (1738)
29 May 11
Yep, those servers are ones to watch...that's why I am careful with what i put out there