Secure File Erasers

When you delete a file from your computer - move it to the ‘Recycle Bin’ in Windows - that file is not gone. The Recycle Bin is really just another folder on your desktop that holds files that you no longer want. When you empty the Recycle Bin the files it contained are no longer available to you, but they are still stored on your computer until such time as the location where they are stored is overwritten by other data.  There are even programs available that let you "un-delete" and recover files after you have emptied the Recycle Bin. The Recycle Bin and the ability to un-delete files is a useful feature to make sure that you don’t accidentally destroy information on your computer.

But what happens when you want to delete a file and be sure that it is completely destroyed? Just moving it to the Recycle Bin and then emptying the bin won’t work, that file is still recoverable with un-delete software. When you want to completely destroy a file on your computer, you need a file shredder.   

File shredders remove files from your computer, but in addition to removing the files they also overwrite the files’ location with random data so that they can’t be recovered - not even by using special data recovery software.

There are several file shredder programs available, but two that I like are Freeraser and Securely File Shredder. Both of these programs are free, and function similarly to the Windows Recycle Bin, but with the addition of a secure overwrite of the file location to help ensure that it can’t be recovered.

Freeraser adds its own version of the recycle bin to your desktop. To permanently delete (shred) a file, just drag it onto the Freeraser icon and click "continue". The file is then destroyed.

Securely File Eraser also has a drag-and-drop function, but also include options to delete files and folders by browsing to locate them. Securely File Eraser also includes a button that allows you to permanently delete the contents of the Windows Recycle Bin.

Download a copy of Freeraser or Securely File Shredder; or find another secure file shredder that works for you. Regardless of which file shredder you choose, it is important to have some method of permanently deleting sensitive information from your computer.