Added question to the topic of pc's being taken for analysis.
Is there a way to delete all files from the computer,such as windowwasher programs, or is the info in the computer for life (or 2 to 10 whichever the state chooses... )

I am not a computer expert but in the cases where I have represented those involved with files being extracted from computers, it seems that the government (Federal more than State) have the power and technology to find what ever they need from your computer.  Also, if you think that your digital cell phone is safe: wrong! also, think phone cards are not traceable: wrong! Use care in what you say and to whom you say it, and don't keep notes!

The site below has a downloadable disk file eraser program which is as good as you can do short of melting the disk. The FAQ tells you what it will and won't protect against. It boils down to how much money they are willing to spend. For the type of investigations being discussed on this board, this tool should be more than sufficient. However, if LE seizes your machine w/o warning, you will not have any opportunity to erase anything.

A more practical solution is a high quality file encryption program with the keys protected by a long pass phrase that you do not store on the machine and do not write down.

I AM a computer expert, and you can certainly erase data on your hard drive to the extent that it is simply not worth the cost or time for LE with their limited computer technology to try to recover the data.  

There are plenty of evidence erasing programs out there that will cleanse your computer and overwrite your hard drive's free space to DOD standards and beyond. While none are 100% guaranteed, it is unlikely that the police or FBI are going to spend weeks and tens of thousands of dollars trying to unerase your hard drive, unless they think you are a terrorist.

Hobbyists in general are really not worth the trouble for the average police dept. to try to crack DOD standard overwriting. For what?  For a misdemeanor conviction?  It's simply not worth LE's time to waste resources in that way.

*The Pro Software*

I recommend and use Evidence Eliminator
http://www.evidence-eliminator.com/

but you can also consider

Evidence Eraser, at
http://www.internet-eraser-pro.info/


*Cheaper Software*

Weberaser
http://www.weberaser.com/

Privacy Eraser
http://www.privacyeraser.com/


*Free Software*

There are some freebie free space eraser programs out there, if you don't want to spend money, such as

BCWipe
http://www.jetico.com/index.htm#/bcwipe.htm

Eraser
http://www.tolvanen.com/eraser/


Generally, you should be clearing out your cache (temp internet folder) every day, deleting temp files and history, and NOT saving all your passwords into your web browser.  if you save all your passwords, then anyone else using your computer can also access the same websites and email services as you can.  Be sure that you also have your "autocomplete" turned fully OFF if you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer.  

The best email service for added security protection is hushmail, at www.hushmail.com.  If two people are using hushmail when they write to each other, then all email is encrypted automatically on sending and automatically de-crypted on receipt, but no one can read it in between.  I would recommend ALL providers AND hobbyists to be using hushmail.com's free service. Secure communications are ESSENTIAL. Many providers use yahoo.com or hotmail.  These companies are in my opinion not secure in any way.

Sincerely
Alpha-Dog

Answers my question, Thanks.

Having  done my share of computer  hardware and software consulting,I can safely state  that "Deleted " files  will  remain on your  Hard  Disk indefinitely  and CAN   be recovered,unless you Totally "reformat "your  Computer  hard disk. and even then ,some  files can Still be recovered.

I am not a computer expert but I work for a software engineering company, and the engineers that I talked to about this subject strongly agree with Alpha-Dog. They both use "Evidence Eliminator" and say it is the most effective product on the market. They believe that even though it is more expensive than competing products, it is worth it because it is so much better.

thanks to all.

I am a computer engineer.  If you are asking because you were/are a TBD subscriber, then there is a good chance that the LE in FL have your info.  Unless TBD kept their data on encrypted disks (e.g using PGPdisk or something similar) that automatically leaves the data encrypted when the computer looses power, they'll have everything on everyone: name, CC info; CC biling adr, etc.

Staff at TER:  do you have such protection for our data?