Cannot wipe "ghost" of thunderbird email.zip from free space
I have the same problem mentioned in https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/993084 The last two posts read: "Suggest Thunderbird improve the process for deleting and overwriting emails. The process now requires a delete of the email, empty the trashcan, and then compact the folder. These 3 steps do overwrite the email space on the C drive. Recommend an efficient separate option be added for Thunderbird to delete and overwrite an email in one step." & "If you really need to delete a file use this free utility http://lockhunter.com/ Then there are a slew of programs that will "shred" the file so it cannot be recovered. Wise 360 has a free shredding utility"
I understand there is a process to avoid the security concern of creating a "ghost", or "shadow" if you will, that make old email undesirably recoverable using various programs such as Recuva. One should compact folders after emptying the trash, specifically. However, the problem remains unsolved for people like me who did not follow those directions at some point and do not want a recoverable ZIP file on their disk. File shredding utilities will not work because that 'thunderbird email.ZIP' is in the free space, inaccessible to file explorer context. I've seen threads such as http://www.sevenforums.com/browsers-mail/336161-cannot-overwrite-deleted-emails-free-space-4.html that go on endlessly because the problem remains that a recoverable "phantom" is created in the user's free space, creating a security concern. Any insight into this?
All Replies (5)
Product eg :Recuva has nothing to do with Thunderbird.
Regarding the link you mentioned - it explains very clearly that Recuva is controlling that zip file - not Thunderbird. It also tells you that you cannot delete it until it has been used. So that clears up the ZIP file issue.
As for deleting: It is vital that people who delete in error can easily undo a delete, so it is vital that a 'marked as deleted' email remains in the original folder even if hidden. On occasions, people discover several emails apparently deleted, but at this point they may be recoverable if the emails are hidden and marked as deleted and you do not need to use any other product, it is a matter of opening the file and for each email changing one particular heading to a different number, then it is possible to recover those deleted mails. If you compact automatically after deleting, it is not possible to undo a delete. Hence, why compacting is not automatic on Delete.
You can set auto compacting: Menu icon > Options > Options > Advanced > 'Network & DiscSpace' tab Disc Space: select 'compact all folders when it will save over xx MB. Suggest you set a lower amount to ensure more frequent compacting. click on OK
For imap mail account you can also set the Inbox to expunge on exit. In Account Settings > Server Settings
Product eg :Recuva has nothing to do with Thunderbird. Regarding the link you mentioned - it explains very clearly that Recuva is controlling that zip file - not Thunderbird. It also tells you that you cannot delete it until it has been used. So that clears up the ZIP file issue.
As for deleting: It is vital that people who delete in error can easily undo a delete, so it is vital that a 'marked as deleted' email remains in the original folder even if hidden.
The ability to undo-delete is all well and good. But I beg differ about the issue being cleared up from I sit. My problem lingers because I tried everything in that referenced thread, including shredding all traces of Thunderbird emails and folders, uninstalling Thunderbird AND Recuva, and wiping all free space* to no avail. In regard to that file being controlled by Recuva as opposed to Thunderbird, I respectfully disagree not in some "blame" sense that "that's Recuva's doing", but in the sense that the ability to retrieve these files LATENTLY exists where that should not be the case. I know I tried exhaustively to shake that "ghost" remnant loose and it won't go away. Further, if that's only a function of Recuva how come this http://ccm.net/download/download-10869-email-recovery-for-mozilla-thunderbird program has the ability to manifest the exact same latent shadow which one desires to be obscured?
- I even tried other means than Recuva (Recuva is often used for disk wiping as is the case here, as opposed to file recovery) for free space wiping after all proper deletions & uninstalls, including sdelete.
Modified by Ned.F
Toad-Hall said
It also tells you that you cannot delete it until it has been used. So that clears up the ZIP file issue.
One cannot wipe that zip file from free space even after it is used to recover an email.
Modified by Ned.F
I really have no idea what you actually expect anyone to do. your here complaining about recuva. what it is I do not know and really have little interest in learning. If it does something you do not like. Tell the people who make it.
As for data recovery programs in general, it is not up to individual programs to ensure their old data files are not recoverable. That is a function of the operating system. If you have issues with your operating system. I strongly suggest you address them to the supplier of that operating system.
ALL I see here is issues with Recuva. A quick Google search indicates that is is supported here https://www.piriform.com/support/recuva I suggest you take your issues with that product to them. We can not help you with Recuva or the data it acquires. Regardless of how it get it.
Modified by Ned.F