Deleted email messages

When I delete email messages are they totally erased everywhere or are they stored somewhere ? like maybe on my hard-drive? or with Microsoft perhaps ? Everything I know about computers could be written on a matchbook cover, using a crayon.

Re: Deleted email messages

Don't bother about such stuff BM, there was a time when Delete meant Delete, and photos could be burnt, or was there?.

Re: Deleted email messages

Have you noticed a Trash folder? They're likely to be in there till you then delete permanently. Not stored on your hard drive unless you download them somehow, seeing as emails are usually web based.

Re: Deleted email messages

As jazzi said I believe, but they could still be kept by the sender in many forms. So you can't assume they are actually gone from the world.

Re: Deleted email messages

Ok, yes. I understand. Well, perhaps I do. All of this computer technology is happening far over my poor old head.
The reason I asked the question is because, following the San Bernadino terror attack the F.B.I. wanted to gain access to the cell phones and laptops of the 2 terrorists, but Microsoft and Apple refused to assist the FBI, claiming privacy rights for their world-wide customers.

it was an Israeli computer company that finally "cracked open" the devices.

Re: Deleted email messages

It depends on which email client you are using (Outlook in my case). When I delete any emails they go into a `Deleted` folder in the shape of a `.pst` file, all my folders are automatically backed up at intervals and archived into further .pst files.

If you are using EMAP (Gmail, Outlook.com etc), you can log-in to your email account using your browser and there should be an `All Mail` folder - any emails deleted or otherwise should be in there.

Re: Deleted email messages

Thank you all. I believe I understand

Re: Deleted email messages

Bakerman, everything you ever do and post on the internet is recorded and stored somewhere. The internet exists for surveillance.

Emails, forums, buying stuff, selling stuff, all the social networking, all your casual surfing. All of it recorded away in massive data banks.

Nothing you can do about it.

Re: Deleted email messages

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Phew ! That's scary. Something in my gut told me that. Nothing specific, I just had a "feeling".

On one hand it could be a good thing to catch child molesters. But on the other hand, as a law abiding citizen, I don't like Big Brother watching me.
It may just be a rumor but I read somewhere that the gov't can watch us thru our own computer camera. I have taped mine closed.
You know what they say, "Just because you're paranoid, does not mean that they are not out to get you".

Re: Deleted email messages

So your emails are delivered to a server, webmail such as Google is a server beyond your control. All you can do is delete from server once read/dealt with

Just remember that nothing that is sent over the web is ever completely deleted

You can delete and rewrite over your own hard drive so everything it's 'seen' is now hidden from the casual eye, but the authorities have ways and means of retrieving it

We are monitored via email and messaging services but hey, if someone wants to read about my boring life let them

What happens is, there are bots looking for certain words and sentences. They get thrown up enough and yes your internet activity may be flagged for watching closely.

So boring family life, and even smutty stuff isn't going to come back to haunt you, unless like my friends boss just did this past week, was accidentally make a very private message very public on Facebook lol