Delete Doesn’t Mean Destroyed

I am pretty sure most of you think that when you delete a file or move to the recycle bin, it is removed from the system and is not recoverable.

If you have a piece of paper and drop it in the recycle bin, did you completely delete it? Is there a way to recover it? The answer is No, and Yes, you just moved it to a different location. Dropping a paper in the trash bin means that anyone can look in the trash and take it back from the garbage.

Let’s say you throw a bank statement in the trash; this is the same as moving your file to the “Recycle Bin.” The paper is now available to anyone walking by the trash can at home. The bank statement in the trash means that anyone could look inside the bin, grab it, and read the document.

Another analogy I can use is the trash pickup services. On your trash pickup day, you deposit the bags in the truck, so it is taken to the landfill. The action of depositing the bag on the truck is the same as selecting “Empty Recycle Bin.” You know the bank statement is in the company’s landfill, but you don’t know the exact location in that said landfill.

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System Side

When you delete data by moving it to the trash bin or by pressing delete, the operating system breaks the link (called “Pointer”) to the memory space location where the data was stored and proceeds to open that memory space for reuse. The system uses a list of files and their memory addresses to basically “point” to the file location. This information helps the system determine occupied, and open memory areas.

Now going back to the landfill analogy, your bank statement is in a location where it is going to be covered by other trash and then recycled, making the document inaccessible. However, until this happens anyone with the right tools and willingness to get dirty, can walk into the landfill and recover the statement. Just like in your system, to recover deleted files from the storage device, you don’t have to be a super hacker. There are plenty of free tools and “how-to” instructions available online. One of these tools is called Recuva for windows, this tool is free and easy to use.

Physical and Electronic Domains Merge

To make sure a document is unreadable usually you would make sure to shred it before putting it in the trash. Why not do the same with the sensitive files in your system. The big difference between the paper copy in your home’s trash can and the system’s Recycle Bin is that your computer is accessible to a vast network of people with the ability, willingness to get dirty and tools to do it easily. Because of this accessibility, you have a higher risk of being fooled to download an infected application or malware. These maliciously modified applications can scrape your memory locations for removed files.

Anyone with access to your memory can recover all those private pictures. Availability of recovery is possible with all devices with memory: cellphones, thumb drives, cameras, and hard drives. So, make sure you shred your electronic files. Mobile devices have a higher risk of private data loss because of the frequency we interchange them. Returning lease or selling the device increases the possibility of your data falling into the unauthorized hands. We think that by just wiping the device all data is removed, there are plenty of studies that say otherwise.

Let’s explore some free tools and step-by-step instructions that can help you securely dispose of your mobile device without risking your private data.

What to do?

Computer systems

Use a file shredder to destroy sensitive files, below is a list of 35 free tools.

• Use a file shredder application (Lime Wire – Top 35 Free File Shredders)

Mobile Systems

Is recommended to encrypt the data before wiping the device, below is an excellent article from CNET with step by step instructions for IOs, Android, and Windows

• Encrypt and then restore (CNET – How to Wipe Phone or Tablet before Selling them)

Take Away

Deleting a file does not make the data disappear, the tools for recovering “Deleted” compromising pictures or email you wrote while are really easy to find and master. So, as you do with important papers in the physical world, shred sensitive files not just delete them.