Trend Micro TrendSetter November 2009

When You Delete Your Social Media and Smartphone Files—Are They Really Deleted?

Did you ever wonder what happens to all those pictures you've posted on photo sharing sites after you've deleted them? How about all of your smartphone applications that you used once or twice then erased? In fact, you have no idea what really happens when you delete files or an entire account because you're not in control of the computers that are storing your data.

Back in the old days, when your data resided on your computer, you decided when to erase a file with either a simple click of the delete key or by using a file erase program.

As more consumer data moves onto cloud computing platforms like Gmail and Facebook, and closed platforms like Kindle and iPhone, deleting your data—whether old email messages, college photos on Flickr or personal posts on Facebook—becomes more complicated. In fact, you have to trust that these companies will delete your data when you ask them to. Unfortunately, many of these sites are more likely to make your data inaccessible than actually delete it. And even if you do manage to delete your files, copies are almost certain to remain in the companies' backup systems.

A current University of Washington research project is developing a system called "Vanish" that automatically deletes data after a set time interval. Using this system, you can send an email, update your Facebook page or upload a photo to Flickr and the data will disappear after the time expires. After it disappears, no one will be able to read it.

Few people are going to stop using their iPhones or cancel their Twitter accounts just because these companies don't delete their data. But with solutions like Vanish, we can take back control of our data in the cloud.


Trend Micro Consumer Newsletter \| Security Tips, Tricks, and Updates		November 2009
	When You Delete Your Social Media and Smartphone Files—Are They Really Deleted? Did you ever wonder what happens to all those pictures you've posted on photo sharing sites after you've deleted them? How about all of your smartphone applications that you used once or twice then erased? In fact, you have no idea what really happens when you delete files or an entire account because you're not in control of the computers that are storing your data. Back in the old days, when your data resided on your computer, you decided when to erase a file with either a simple click of the delete key or by using a file erase program. As more consumer data moves onto cloud computing platforms like Gmail and Facebook, and closed platforms like Kindle and iPhone, deleting your data—whether old email messages, college photos on Flickr or personal posts on Facebook—becomes more complicated. In fact, you have to trust that these companies will delete your data when you ask them to. Unfortunately, many of these sites are more likely to make your data inaccessible than actually delete it. And even if you do manage to delete your files, copies are almost certain to remain in the companies' backup systems. A current University of Washington research project is developing a system called "Vanish" that automatically deletes data after a set time interval. Using this system, you can send an email, update your Facebook page or upload a photo to Flickr and the data will disappear after the time expires. After it disappears, no one will be able to read it. Few people are going to stop using their iPhones or cancel their Twitter accounts just because these companies don't delete their data. But with solutions like Vanish, we can take back control of our data in the cloud. < Back to main page
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