How can I make sure my data is permanently deleted?

Click Delete in the File Explorer Ribbon at the top of the window, or click the arrow underneath the Delete option and select Permanently delete. Clicking Delete sends the file to the Recycle Bin, while selecting the Permanently delete option deletes the file for good.
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How do you permanently delete files so they Cannot be recovered?

Right-click on the Recycle Bin and choose "Properties". Select the drive for which you want to delete the data permanently. Check the option "Don't move files to the Recycle Bin. Remove files immediately when deleted." Then, click "Apply" and "OK" to save the settings.
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Can data be deleted permanently?

How to permanently delete data. Formatting a hard drive and wiping it clean are not the same things. Formatted hard drives will still contain retrievable data. If you wish to permanently delete files, you will need to overwrite the data with special software.
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Does deleting data delete everything?

Deleting info from a device will delete it everywhere it's synced. To delete the data from one device without removing it everywhere: Turn off sync on the device. Delete the data from the device.
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How do you permanently erase data so that it Cannot be recovered Android?

Go to Settings > Security > Advanced and tap Encryption & credentials. Select Encrypt phone if the option isn't already enabled. Next, go to Settings > System > Advanced and tap Reset options. Select Erase all data (factory reset), and press Delete all data.
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How Do You Make Sure Data is Permanently Deleted



Why is deleted data not truly gone?

Truth of the matter is that your data is never really deleted when you delete it from your computer manually. When you delete your files, they are being sent to the Recycle Bin, where they can be recovered at any time.
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Can police find deleted photos?

So, can police recover deleted pictures, texts, and files from a phone? The answer is yes—by using special tools, they can find data that hasn't been overwritten yet. However, by using encryption methods, you can ensure your data is kept private, even after deletion.
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Where do permanently deleted files go?

When you delete a file or folder, it goes into the Recycle bin, where you have a chance to restore it.
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How do I wipe my phone before selling it?

Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. You'll be asked to confirm, and it may take a few minutes to complete the process. Start by backing up your Android phone, then remove any MicroSD cards and your SIM card. Android has an anti-theft measure called Factory Reset Protection (FRP).
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How do you ensure that data Cannot be recovered?

There are, however, a few ways to ensure your data is really erased forever.
  1. Encrypt your phone. Encrypting your Android device is the strongest way to prevent its data from being recovered. ...
  2. Overwrite it with throwaway data. ...
  3. Repeat.
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How do you delete files and make them unrecoverable?

So in order to make the files unrecoverable, you need a utility that will delete and overwrite the space on the drive where the file was. The process is known as “shredding” and is securely deleting your files by overwriting them so they're unrecoverable.
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How do I remove my personal data from my old phone?

Press the Menu button and tap Settings. Scroll down and tap Privacy. Tap Factory Data Reset. Check Erase Internal Storage to erase all the data on the phone's internal storage.
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Is it safe to sell phone after factory reset?

PSA: Factory Resets Don't Make Your Android Phone Safe to Sell.
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Does a factory reset on a phone delete everything?

A factory data reset erases your data from the phone. While data stored in your Google Account can be restored, all apps and their data will be uninstalled. To be ready to restore your data, make sure that it's in your Google Account. Learn how to back up your data.
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How do I permanently delete files from my hard drive?

Step-by-Step: Using Eraser
  1. Navigate to the files or folders that you want to securely erase.
  2. Right-click on the files and/or folders and an Eraser menu will appear.
  3. Highlight and click Erase in the Eraser menu.
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Does emptying Recycle Bin permanently delete?

You can easily empty the recycle bin on your Windows 10 computer and permanently remove files from your PC. Once you empty your recycle bin, the content is gone forever, unless you saved it on an external hard drive or the cloud. Emptying the recycle bin on your computer can help to free up some hard drive space.
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Can you permanently delete files stored in the cloud?

The short answer is yes. After you delete a file from your computer, the file will also be deleted from the cloud the next time your system syncs. At the same time, this is not a permanent, irreversible process. Most cloud storage systems allow you to restore a deleted file within 30 days.
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Can someone hack deleted photos?

Yes, you have the chance to recover the photo until a certain time period. The time period of both, iOS and Android, varies slightly.
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Can text messages be deleted permanently?

Deleting Texts From Your Android Phone

You can delete individual texts or conversations within your messaging app. For individual texts, hover over the text you want to delete within the conversation and select the trash can icon in the top right corner to delete.
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Can deleted files be used in court?

'Deleted' Files Can Be Recovered

Therefore, a person may think that an incriminating text message or photo is gone after they have 'deleted' it from their phone. The truth is that data recovery analysts can recover the file to potentially be used against them at court.
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How long does it take for deleted data to be overwritten?

You are not sure when a deleted file can be overwritten. So, there is no fixed answer to how long is too long before a deleted file is unrecoverable. You might discover that some files that were deleted years ago are still recoverable.
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Can deleted files really be recovered?

Deleted files are still recoverable!

Although you can no longer see the file on the location it once was and your operating system no longer has it, a copy of it still exists in your hard drive. The file will remain there until another file replaces that file in the exact location.
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Can someone recover my data after I sell my phone?

If your device is encrypted before performing a factory reset, any leftover data on the device will appear as a jumbled mess to anyone who tries to recover it, and your personal information will remain secret and safe.
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Should I wipe my phone before trading it in?

Before you trade in your old phone, it's important to properly wipe the data clean. A factory reset will work, so long as you encrypt the phone first. For Android users, if you existing phone runs Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) or newer, your data will already be encrypted by default. So, you're good.
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How do I know if my iPhone is wiped clean?

Login to your iCloud account, and go to Find my iPhone. click on the All Devices dropdown, It should show you the status of your phone. If it has been erased, it will not show in the list( Again, assuming it was the find my iPhone setting was enabled by you and wasn't disabled by the thief).
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