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Alert

Security Concern with Outlook.com email services

May 20, 2016 10:24AM PDT

Did you know that even after you empty your "Deleted Items" folder in Outlook.com your e-mails are still kept in a folder called "Recover Deleted Items" ?
It is right there, it is hard not to notice it.
There is the option to "Purge" emails HOWEVER, you can only Purge one at a time AND if you miss click outside the checkbox all the ones you've pre selected will be unchecked and you have to start over
There is NO option to select all.
I had little over 100 messages there. I figured suck it up and get, VERY CAREFULLY, clicking...
Can you imagine folks with 500+ emails ?
Support person from Microsoft Community forums had this to say:
"Unfortunately it is by design in Outlook mail because So many people lost messages through inadvertent deletion."
SERIOUSLY???
So people were emptying their "Deleted Items" folder where doing it "inadvertent" ?
This is REALLY bad
I mean, how important is a paper shredder ???

Discussion is locked

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It's worse than that.
May 20, 2016 12:20PM PDT

Emails are also cached and stored in other computers out in the world. So while you may find Outlook's handling bad, it's nothing compared to outside your PC.

It's hard to find what else you are complaining about. Maybe it's how many PC users refuse to backup what they can't lose. It's their choice. Shouldn't we let them have that choice?

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I know it's a bit confusing, English is my second language
May 20, 2016 12:36PM PDT

No other complaining besides not having the option to select all and then "Purge" everything and adding that, after emptying :"Deleted Items", now I have to open the "Recover Deleted Items" to empty it as well...
Like I said, 100 emails ... but how about folks that have 500 or more

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There are more email services besides Outlook.com
May 20, 2016 12:40PM PDT

For me this is all about choice. If you feel this is junk, you can change to another.

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Not after over 20 years, not that simple
May 21, 2016 11:02AM PDT

Not that simple when you have been using the same email address for over 20 years
I am testing a few email clients that give me the choice to download all my emails from Outlook.com and then when I delete them.
You know, unchecking the option to keep emails on server.

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So you are not using an email client?
May 21, 2016 11:09AM PDT

If you are using Web email, you are not in control. I'll try to keep this simple.

As to changing email addresses, why change? Why not learn what they do, use better clients than Microsoft's?

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I guess I've failed to explain it correctly...
May 21, 2016 11:19AM PDT

I thought "Outlook.com" was the key word but seems it was only a key word to me Grin
Regarding using email client software, I am testing a few that give me the option to download everything from their server. So no copies will be kept on their realms
Thanks you

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Emptying Outlook Inbox.
May 21, 2016 2:41AM PDT

500 in Inbox? That's nothing. I have in my Inbox, 4,113 emails at the moment, and I cannot find the time to delete them one by one. I found it impossible to 'empty' the entire folder in one go. Even if you delete by chunks, you still have to highlight them one at a time. Any suggestions anyone? I use Windows vista Home Basic. Thanks!
Oscar.

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press ctrl and A keys
May 21, 2016 2:47AM PDT

you can press/hold ctrl the press the A key to select them all.

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how about just disable that feature
May 21, 2016 11:18AM PDT

quit complaining and just disable the deleted message recovery.

http://ccm.net/faq/26544-how-to-disable-message-recovery-on-outlook

Personally, I do not use email clients anymore. I keep everything online because I never know what device or computer I will check my email with. I got tired of importing/exporting emails whenever getting a new computer, and I got tired of worrying about losing my emails in a drive crash. I have more than one email address and use one as a main one. all my emails from all of my accounts are forwarded to that one so I have a backup.

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gave wrong link
May 21, 2016 11:23AM PDT
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Great
May 21, 2016 11:36AM PDT

No worries, that's great
It worries me that MICROSOFT support did not know about this option, it's just unbelievable
thanks again, I will try that ASAP

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...
May 21, 2016 11:28AM PDT

I've already contacted Microsoft. That is per design and can't be disabled.
You re mistaking the software client that you install to your computer with the "OUTLOOK.COM" online email services
So the solution I've found would be to use email client that gives me the option to NOT KEEP emails on the server.
Before telling me to stop complaining, please read the whole thread.
It is a security concern for everyone that uses "OUTLOOK.COM" online email services
Thank you

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look at my second link
May 21, 2016 11:32AM PDT

I gave the wrong link in my original post, look at the second link which is for outlook.com. I tried it and it works.

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Older version
May 21, 2016 11:45AM PDT

The option is no longer there Sad
But thanks anyhow
take care

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yes it is still there
May 21, 2016 11:49AM PDT

it is still there. I was just looking at it in my account. are you sure you followed the steps in the link?

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Yes
May 21, 2016 11:54AM PDT

I am looking at it right now, but I've found a temp solution
Going to settings and under POP and IMAP, I check the option
"Let apps and devices to delete messages from Outlook"
This of course after we enable POP and the use a client software like Thunderbird

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simple steps
May 21, 2016 11:54AM PDT

1. sign in
2. click on settings
3. click on options
4. click on customizing outlook.com
5. click on advanced privacy settings
6. under deleted messages select "Don't let me recover deleted messages--once they leave the Deleted folder, don't give me a link to get them back"

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4. click on customizing outlook.com
May 21, 2016 11:58AM PDT

This is not there, but it's okay now.
thanks again

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oops me goofed
May 21, 2016 12:26PM PDT

I gotta get that dr pepper. I am goofing too much in this thread.

when you click options, under the customizing outlook.com heading, click on advanced privacy settings.