Computer error 4: “It is enough to empty the (virtual) recycle bin to delete the data completely.”

This is unfortunately simply wrong.

When deleting and then emptying the recycle bin, the data is completely preserved, only the references in the “Table of Contents” are deleted.

There are readily available tools to restore such data easily, as long as they have not been overwritten. The targeted overwriting of the data is the only safe way to really delete the data, if you want to sell your computer including the hard disk, for example – except the physical destruction of the disk of course.

Information is provided by the German Federal Office for Information Security (Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik, BSI) at https://www.bsi-fuer-buerger.de/BSIFB/DE/Empfehlungen/RichtigLoeschen/richtigloeschen_node.html –

Attention: Memory based on flash technology, e.g. USB sticks or SSD hard disks, cannot be safely deleted, except by destruction! See also https://www.bsi-fuer-buerger.de/BSIFB/DE/Risiken/Sicherheitsirrtuemer/Sicherheitsirrtuemer.html?nn=7904670#doc7814992bodyText4