In Windows, if you delete an important file, even from the Recycle bin, it’s still entirely possible to recover that file as long as it doesn’t get overwritten between its deletion and your attempt at recovery. That’s because the file is never truly deleted and Windows is just told that the space the file occupies is available to write over when needed. In this case, a free tool that you can use to recover data is all that’s required. But this is obviously not good if you want to permanently delete a personal or private file because anyone could just try to recover it.Just imagine you sold your old laptop/PC and you make sure to delete your personal files and format drives multiple times believing that your system was cleaned before selling. Are you 100% sure still no one can recover your deleted files with any file recovery software.
Then you are wrong — about 50% of your files still recoverable. You didn’t know which files will come under these 50% — it may be your private photos or some important office documents or anything. So it doesn’t hurt to delete your files securely from your system. But how to delete them permanently?
You shouldn’t use these tools if your data is saved on a SSD. Writing cycles on SSDs are limited, so the controller tries to utilize the memory evenly. It’s impossible for software to control where the data is physically located on a SSD drive.
Tools To Securely Delete Your Files And Make Them Impossible To Recover:
1. WipeFile
WipeFile is a portable app which erases files and folders secure and fast. It supports 14 different wipe methods, e.g. two US Navy standards, the standard of the US Department of Defence, US Airforce and the NATO.
WipeFile overwrites the information completely, so there is no way to undelete the files or reconstruct the file content.
2. Eraser
Eraser permanently delete files, folders and their previously deleted counterparts.. It overwrites the files being deleted with random data. Works with an extremely customisable Scheduler.There are several options for the number of times the files being deleted are overwritten with random data, including two versions of the US DoD 5220.22-M standard (3-pass and 7-pass) and the Gutmann method, which overwrites the file with random data 35 times.
Eraser works with Windows XP (with Service Pack 3), Windows Server 2003 (with Service Pack 2), Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7,8,10 and Windows Server 2012.
Also Read: How To Clean Junk Files In Computer ?
3. FreeRaser
FreeRaser is a free portable tool that can be used to shred, destroy and permanently delete files from your computer. FreeRaser allows you to select from one of three methods to shred data.
Method 1: Fast destruction utilizes a single round, filling the space with random data.
Method 2: Forced destruction utilizes 3 rounds of filling according to DoD 5220.22M standard.
Method 3: Ultimate destruction utilizes 35 rounds of filling with data according to Guttman algorithm.
FreeRaser is easy to use. Simply drag the file or folder you wish to shred and delete over the FreeRaser trash bin and the software does the rest.
4. EraserDrop Portable
EraserDrop Portable puts a secure data deletion tool in your USB toolkit. If you often work on different terminals, and want to make sure you haven’t left anything there, EraserDrop Portable is at hand. It is a drop target (a floating icon on your desktop) that you can drop files onto to quickly erase them so they can not be recovered. Simply right clicking on the EraserDrop icon brings up configuration options, and the wiping services.
5. SDelete
SDelete is a command line utility that allows you to securely delete one or more files and/or directories, or to cleanse the free space on a logical disk. SDelete is made by SysInternals, the same people behind Process Explorer and AutoRuns. In addition to being able to wipe files and folders with the number of passes you choose, it can also clean or zero the free space on a selected drive letter.
To get help with how to use the command, type “sdelete” (without the quotes) at the command prompt and press Enter.
6. TurboShredder
TurboShredder overwrites files, file names, directory names and the modification time of files up to 100 times before deleting the files. The data can be overwritten with zeros, ones, random data or with the Peter Gutmann algorithm. It does require the Java Runtime Environment to be installed which some users won’t have. TurboShredder does work in a way similar to most other tools allowing you to drop files and folders onto the main window or via the + button, but the number of erasing cycles is completely configurable.
Also Read : How To Permanently Kill Someones PC | Computer
7. Blank And Secure
Blank And Secure is a small-sized, portable utility developed to permanently delete files from your system, in an effort to prevent unauthorized users from recovering sensitive data via specialized software. Files and folders can be loaded in the list of items up for deletion using the drag-and-drop support. Batch processing is featured, so Blank And Secure is capable to removing multiple items at once, but you can only insert one entry into the queue at a time.
8. DP Shredder
DP Shredder is a portable, small program allows you to erases files/folders securely and wipes disk free space using one of the following methods: zero, pseudo-random data, RCMP (DSX), US DoD 5220.22-M (E), US DoD 5220.22-M (ECE) or Gutmann 35x. Multiple wipe actions are progressively slower. All but the most security-minded users should only need a pseudo-random overwrite.
9. CCleaner
CCleaner is a program that removes unused, temporary files from your system, cleans up your internet history and cookies, contains a tool for cleaning the registry, and even allows you to clean up files from applications installed on your computer. The latest version offers a tool for wiping the free space on your hard drive. You can wipe the free space on a hard drive or the entire drive, securely deleting all data on the drive. There are four options for specifying how many times the data will be overwritten.
10. DP Wipe
DP Wipe, a very simple application, lends you a hand when trying to delete files once and for ever. DP Wipe has been designed to be simple and to provide a quick way to delete files. You can thus add multiple files at once and pick from a total of six different wiping methods, as follows: Zeros, Pseudorandom data, RCMP (DSX), US DoD 5220.22-M (E) 3x, US DoD 5220.22-M (ECE) 7x and Gutmann (35 pass).
That’s it. Use any of these tools next time to permanently delete files from your system securely and make them impossible to recover.
If you know any other similar tools please share them with us in comments.
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