The answer to this question is a resounding maybe. You have probably already heard that it takes special software to completely erase any deleted files but what happens to emails that you have deleted? Do they stick around in an unknown place where they could come back to haunt you someday?
While deleting an email is quite similar to deleting a file on your computer, it gets tricky with an email because it’s hard to define “permanent”. When you decide to delete an email, it may be saved by a backup system that you have in place. It’s also possible the person on the other side of said email could still have it.
Every email program or interface has its own way of deleting emails. When you click the button to delete an email it doesn’t automatically remove it. Instead, the email is sent to your trash bin where it is usually stored for 30 days. This allows you to retrieve it and send it back to your inbox if you change your mind. If you just leave it in the trash it will be deleted automatically after the grace period of 30 days.
If you want to make sure that the email is deleted from the trash right away you’ll need to go to the trash bin yourself and then delete the email again. Once you have done this, the email is gone.
Database File Programs Such As Microsoft Outlook
When you are using this type of email software the situation is more complex. These programs create databases on your computer’s hard drive, to allow easy access while offline. A deleted email may hang around this database for a while even though it seems as if you have completely deleted it. The old file may be deleted but a copy of it or even remnants of the message could be hidden somewhere else on your computer. If you have emails that you want to be sure are 100% removed from your hard drive, you should hire a professional like the team at HTL to handle your IT Support London. That is the best way to ensure there are no remnants left behind.
Deleting Emails from Gmail
Gmail operates on a cloud and once you delete your emails permanently from the trash you won’t be able to easily get them back. This doesn’t mean, however, that they have been deleted forever from your Gmail account. Gmail has an offline backup system in place so that any copies that have been stored may not be deleted permanently for up to 60 days.
This is done so that users can restore their accounts when they have encountered a system failure or an error and is considered to be standard practice by all of the major webmail services. This system was created to provide users with a reliable service that they could trust if things went wrong and an email account needed to be restored.
