Secure Deletion Steps for Personal Information

Introduction

This document outlines the university approved process for securely deleting Personal Information (PI) and Protected Health Information (PHI) after the PI or PHI has been encrypted.

Prerequisite

Eraser Portable® Secure Data Remove software needs to be installed on your computer. Please contact the Fairleigh Dickinson University Technical Assistance Center (UTAC) to request the installation of this software. A member of USAN will assist with the installation and setup of the software.

Document Deletion Process

To securely delete an unencrypted version of a document that contain PI and/or PHI that has been encrypted, complete the following steps:

1. Find the “Secure Deletion” shortcut folder on your computer desktop screen
2. Cut and paste the unencrypted version of the file to be deleted into this folder
3. Find the “Eraser Portable” shortcut folder on your computer desktop screen and click to open the folder
4. Double Click on “EraserPortable.exe“. The screen below will appear
5. Click on the Green Run arrow to erase the file securely

6. A dialogue box will appear

7. Click “Yes“
8. When the deletion process completes, you will see a report appear

9. You may check your “Secure Deletion” folder to see if all documents have been erased

Outlook E-mail Deletion Process

To securely remove emails which contain PI and PHI from your Outlook client, complete the following steps:

1. Delete the email from your Inbox and/or Sent items folder
2. Delete the email from your Deleted Items
3. Go to “Recover Deleted Items“
4. Highlight Deleted Items Folder

5. Then go to Folder > Recover Deleted Items

6. Highlight email which requires permanent deleting and select “Purge Selected Items” and then click “OK“. Now message is permanently out of your email system

7. Finally, click “OK” on the following screen

See also