I accidentally uploaded some personal pictures to my work computer that I really don't want anyone to see. They weren't inappropriate, just really unflattering. I quickly deleted them from my computer and the recycle bin, but I'm worried that they might still be accessible somewhere because my work computer is monitored. How likely is it that someone could find these images? Do they stay in the system forever? Is there anything I can do to make sure they're completely gone? I'm feeling super embarrassed about this mistake!
5 Answers
It’s always a good idea to delete anything you'd rather keep private from work computers as soon as possible. If you’re still worried, chat with someone in IT about your company's policies on personal files.
It really depends on how long those pictures were on your computer. If they were uploaded for just a few minutes, they might not have fully synced to OneDrive yet. However, if any backups run automatically, those images could remain there for a while, possibly up to a year, depending on your company's backup policy.
OneDrive has a built-in recycle bin that you can check. Just log into your OneDrive online, go to the Recycle Bin, and delete them permanently from there. Generally, unless those images break some serious company rule, most IT employees don’t have time or need to look into personal files.
Thanks! I found the second stage recycle bin and deleted it all.
If you were logged into OneDrive, the pictures might be stored in your online account as well. IT can access those if they want to, but usually, they don't go snooping unless there's a reason to. It's probably safe for now, but you could take extra steps just to be sure that you're clear of any traces.
So do these files just stay in the cloud forever or what? That freaks me out.
If you have access to a home computer, it might be a good idea to log in to OneDrive from there and remove the photos. After that, you can check from your work computer to make sure they've been deleted.
I had them for like 3 minutes max, so maybe how it syncs won’t be an issue?