Mark, Thanks for the info. However, is you choose the "Zero out deleted databases page" is that as good as wiping the hard drive clean (writing over it)? Also, how bad is the performance hit? Thanks, Shawn. -----Original Message----- From: Mark Fugatt [mailto:mark@xxxxxxxxx] Sent: Friday, July 11, 2003 10:44 AM To: [ExchangeList] Subject: [exchangelist] RE: Permanently deleted emails http://www.MSExchange.org/ Hi Shawn Its funny you should raise this topic, I was at the FBI HQ in Virginia a month ago and this topic came up, the simple answer is that permanently deleting something is pretty much impossible, one of the biggest flaws is that there are always two sides to an email conversation, so because you have deleted it and purged it does not mean the other side of the conversation takes the same steps, so if they really wanted to get the information there is always that possibility. Most companies keep regular backups and they sometimes forget that the information could be on the backup. Now, all that being said, in Exchange 2000 if you look at the properties for the Storage Group, there is an option to "Zero out deleted database pages" this will give you some security, but you will take a performance hit by implementing it, other than that there is not a lot you can do. If you have implemented "Deleted Item Retention" then of course information could be recovered for a certain period of time. The standard motto for anyone using email is: "If you're not prepared to see what you have just typed on the front page of tomorrows newspaper, don't click SEND" Hope this helps a bit. Mark Fugatt MCT, MCSE, Microsoft Exchange MVP Pentech Office Solutions Inc Tel: 585 586 3890 Cell: 585 576 4750 Fax: 585 249 0316 www.4mcts.com www.exchangetrainer.com -----Original Message----- From: Shawn Moua [mailto:smoua@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Friday, July 11, 2003 1:15 PM To: [ExchangeList] http://www.MSExchange.org/ Hi, Before I ask I would like someone to clarify if by purging a mailbox will delete it permanently (i.e. not being able to be recovered by whatever means). I know that even permanently deleted something will still leave intact until the IS writes over it. My question is 1) Is how permanent is "permanently" deleted something in exchange. 2) Is there a software out there that will be able to accomplish this? The reason being I was asked by HR to see if this was possible to due a law suit she read about that involved a company spending a few hundred thousand dollars to retrieve emails. My guess is that an email archiving solution would be the best way to go. Please let me know. Thanks, Shawn. ------------------------------------------------------ List Archives: http://www.webelists.com/cgi/lyris.pl?enter=exchangelist Exchange Newsletters: http://www.msexchange.org/pages/newsletter.asp Exchange FAQ: http://www.msexchange.org/pages/larticle.asp?type=FAQ ------------------------------------------------------ Other Internet Software Marketing Sites: Leading Network Software Directory: http://www.serverfiles.com No.1 ISA Server Resource Site: http://www.isaserver.org Windows Security Resource Site: http://www.windowsecurity.com/ Network Security Library: http://www.secinf.net/ Windows 2000/NT Fax Solutions: http://www.ntfaxfaq.com ------------------------------------------------------ You are currently subscribed to this MSExchange.org Discussion List as: mark@xxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst('Email.Unsub') ------------------------------------------------------ List Archives: http://www.webelists.com/cgi/lyris.pl?enter=exchangelist Exchange Newsletters: http://www.msexchange.org/pages/newsletter.asp Exchange FAQ: http://www.msexchange.org/pages/larticle.asp?type=FAQ ------------------------------------------------------ Other Internet Software Marketing Sites: Leading Network Software Directory: http://www.serverfiles.com No.1 ISA Server Resource Site: http://www.isaserver.org Windows Security Resource Site: http://www.windowsecurity.com/ Network Security Library: http://www.secinf.net/ Windows 2000/NT Fax Solutions: http://www.ntfaxfaq.com ------------------------------------------------------ You are currently subscribed to this MSExchange.org Discussion List as: smoua@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst('Email.Unsub')