itman63

I need some urgent advice and answers to the following three questions :

1) I've been advised that Outlook emails (and other details) are wiped from a pc once they have been deleted i.e. there is no longer any record of them left buried deep in DOS, etc. Is this correct?

2) I want to be able to get rid of evidence of Word documents, jpgs, etc. from my pc but am unable to do so using evidence removal software because of an inability to run exe files. Can someone give me some idiot's guide instructions how to do this 'manually', including how to access DOS if required?

3) I work for a large organisation with very secure access security. However, I have good information that someone from outside is able (or is intending) to gain access to my machine, either via spy software or by remote access software of some sort. I believe that this person may be getting assistance from a work colleague of mine. My office's security expert assures me that this is completely impossible but my source makes me pretty certain that this breach is going to happen. Any advice or thoughts from experts out there would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Basementgeek

As you have stated, you have a security expert, at work. It is their job and responsibility to make sure that this business PC is secure.

Since you are not able to run .exe files, it sounds like they have placed
restrictions on it. We can't help get around them, per our rules:

Never do anything on a company owned PC that you don't want the boss to see.

Closing this post.

BG

koala

Hi, welcome to TSF

1) When files are deleted, the space they occupy on the hard drive is made available as free space that can be reused, but the data remains on the hard drive until it has been overwritten. The deleted files can be recovered using data recovery software.

2) If this is an office computer at work, you'll have to ask the IT department to increase your Windows account privileges, allowing you to run the software, but I don't think they will do that because allowing the use of outside software poses a security risk. Many office computers are restricted so that users can't install software from CD, save files to a USB stick, delete files, etc.

3) Tell your IT department what the situation is. They will monitor any activity on your computer, block any unauthorised attempts to access it remotely, and scan for keyloggers and spyware. Also, tell your superiors. If someone from outside gains access to your computer undetected, they could steal sensitive company data that could cost you your job.


EDIT: Sorry BG, didn't see your reply. I took too long typing.