How do I ensure the files that I have deleted cannot be recovered?

Most of them still believe that once the files get deleted using a �Delete� button, Shift + Del button, emptying the recycle bin or formatting the hard drive, their deleted files are completely removed from PC. It';s not true. Though the files are deleted they can be easily recovered using an undelete software. Maintaining the privacy on storage devices is not as simple as we think.

Whether the file is deleted, Windows operating system does not delete that file permanently. Instead the allocation area or the index of the file system (FAT or NTFS) marks the area used by the deleted file as empty. But the actual raw contents of the file always exist even if the file has been deleted and waits for overwriting by the operating system. Deleted file, which is not overwritten, can be easily recovered. But, if you want to remove junk data from PC then have a look at myfileshredder.com/how-to-clean-junk-from-pc.html.

In order to ensure that your deleted files are erased forever, a file shredder should be used which permanently erases the files from the storage devices. One such utility is File Shredder which helps you to shred files and folders from Windows drive, it shreds the deleted data leaving no traces of sensitive/critical data.

File Shredder presents a hierarchical explorer view to select file and folders to shred. Simply add the files to “shredding zone” and select the shredding patterns and the software would start data destruction beyond recovery. My file shredder tool allows user to shred folders from HDD in just a few steps.

The working principle of this software is, it will overwrite several times the area on the hard disk that was allocated to the files prior of shredding. The once shred data by this means is not recoverable by using any practical software or hardware methods. This software comes with an inbuilt scheduler, which can shred files periodically either at the start up of Windows or at the specified time and schedules the shredding tasks. During shredding, this software generates event log of complete shredding process. File shredder software comes with a context menu, which helps user to add files/folders to shredding zone. In addition, users need not to worry about unauthorized use of this software, because this software comes with password protection. By using My File Shredder software user can shred iPod data easily.

Shredding patterns offered by File Shredder exceeds the standards of DOD US and offers 9 Shredding standards. File Shredder offers safe erasing of data beyond recovery by overwriting the data several times based on the shredding method selected. File Shredder has an intuitive interface that helps even a non technical person to use the software to erase their sensitive data.

File Shredder utility provides nine shredding methods and they are classified into different levels for erasing the data which are based on the security patterns

Low Security Shredding methods/ patterns

• Fast Zero Overwrite
• Random Overwrite
• US Department of Defense (DoD 5220.22-M)
• US Navy, NAVSO P-5239-26 � RLL

Medium Security Shredding methods/ patterns

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization - NATO standard
• German:VSITR
• DOD Standard 5220.28 STD

High Security Shredding methods/ patterns

• Peter Guttmann Secure Deletion
• US Department of Defense (DoD 5220.22-M) + Guttmann Method

If low security pattern is used to erase the data then there are chances that the recovery could be done by hardware specialists who can read off the disk and get the data back with a pattern of bits. High security shredding methods are bit complicated. They overwrite the data with selected patterns several times that makes the data impossible to recover. Thus, in order to ensure that the files deleted using File Shredder is not recoverable run the demo version of File Shredder software and check out its efficiency.

Steps to securely erase deleted files forever:

Step A: Download trial version of my file shredder software and and install it on Windows computer. Launch the tool and select Erase Files / Folder option to shred deleted files beyond recovery from the main screen as in Figure 1. Then, add files and folders by using Add Files / Add Folders option.

Step B: Select the shredding method and click on Proceed option to start with the deleted files shredding process as in Figure 2.

Step C: From the Figure 3, you can see how my file shredder software will shred deleted files beyond recovery.

Step D: Once done with the file erasing process, you will get a pop window stating that file shredding process is completed as in Figure 4.