Securely Erase Files from Your Hard Drive by Britec

Securely Erase Files from Your Hard Drive

Eraser is a Windows utility that allows you to securely erase files, file slack space or cluster tips (the space that is not occupied by the data in a file, but nonetheless allocated to that file by the operating system), Windows virtual memory swap file, unused space on a hard disk, or an entire hard disk or floppy disk or Zip disk or the like. It is able to wipe data using pseudo-random data (or any combination of data that you specify), any number of times you wish (eg, once, or using the US Department of Defense (DOD) recommendations of either 3 times or 7 times, or the Gutmann recommendation of 35 times, etc). It is also able to erase the filenames in the directories for files you delete. The program is open source and works under Windows.

With File Shredder you can remove files from your hard drive without fear they could be recovered. There are quite a few software tools today for retrieval of deleted files under Windows OS. Those tools, often referred to as "file recovery" software, are taking advantage of shortcoming of WIndows "delete" command that we all use regularly to delete files. Actually, the "delete" operation in Windows only removes bits of information from files so they appear deleted in OS. It is easy to retrieve those files using aforementioned specialized file recovery software.

In order to remove, or shred files permanently from your system you have to use a program that is capable of rewriting the files with random series of binary data multiple times. This process is often called shredding. That way, the actual content of the file has been overwritten and the possibilities to recover such a shredded file are mostly theoretical.

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[Britec]

@JackHaynes30 Well they cant recover files if there is nothing to recover. NSA on do a 7 pass and the army do a 3 pass so I would think if you use the 35 gutterman pass I am sure they would not get any data back. BUT who knows what they have to get data back? I guess it depends if you really have wipe or scrubbed the data. I think the safe bet is dont do anything that gives them the reason to want to recover files lol

[VillainCloud]

Hi Britec09! Could you help me with one problem.
I have an Advent MonzaN1 laptop to who i added a Hd webcam to try it out before chritmas.
Now the laptop dosent want to show the build in webcam, and asks for the usb plug.
I tryed to uninstal the drive, but it always reinstals it self, now i am after system32/drives the .sys files
But the system dosent want me to delete. it dosent let me to do any thing.
If you can could you please tell me how i can delete .sys files from system32.

[nelbuscus]

if i put a used hard drive into my computer and took out my original only to delete the info on the used one, would i have to do anything to my original hard drive like re-install something? Also, would anything be lost, or would it just be like nothing happened? and another thing, how could i delete everything all at once?

[sniperkid]

Can the police recover something like the recommended on file shredder which is the DoD one would they be able to recover those files i'm just curious.

[Grandida]

If I shred free disk space what will be deleted?
Give me some examples.

[saldanajr]

will eraser delete files already deleted from the recycle bin and will it erase the OS?

[CrabExposedToDeltaP]

If I wipe the Hard-Drive will the OS still remain on the system (i.e. Will Windows 7 remain on the system if I wipe the whole Hard drive, will I need to re-install it?)

[wolfeman]

Fileshredder rocks!! I love that program. Works great!!

[xj]

Im sorry if this is a stupid question, but im not quite sure i understand what a pass is.

[Shaggy]

What if say i have 100s of illegal files on my pc such as photoshop, music, windows 7 and films i have downloaded for free? if i use this method will it get rid of everything thats ever been on my laptop??

Because im getting a new one soon, and i was thinking of selling this one to a company that refurbishes laptops and im not sure if they will search for deleted files??? :/

[Britec]

7 pass overwrite is extreme for a hard drive, its not going to do your hard drive any good, it will add extreme wear and tear to the drive and it would take forever to complete on today's big drives. If your selling the computer, then I would suggest taking drive out and keep it and replace it with new drive. If your doing something so bad that the FBI will come knocking then change your life style lol to answer your question, could they recover data after 7 pass overwrites, NO I don't think so.

[Ervine]

nice video been looking for a video on this for a while favorited!! :D

[machinimaextremeTX]

@Britec09 i cant go to the website plss help

[treemanification]

Shred Free Disk Space - 16 Gigs USB 3.0 Flash Drive, USB 3.0 socket
Algorithm - Simple One Pass - Took 1, 5 hour
FTW... How about HDD 1TB? I'd better smash it with a hammer

[CONN]

im using the first one to completely erase my only drive to start fresh, this better work.

[GDoggProductions]

if in doubt just destroy the hard drive ....they may not be able to recovery some files but your computer will still keep a log files, which will give hints as to when you logged on what usb stick has been put into your computer etc, solution use more than one program when deleting information :)

[brettduffy]

is 7 pass enugh for fbi/ police to not recover

[Enderamvs]

Omg this guy sounds exactly like Sambonz!

[KountryKowboy]

That file shredder ain't worth nothing it still won't delete all my shredded files i did all the above i'll go find me another one somewhere else that can get the job done.

[parasbhanot]

window 7 looks ugly without aero theme