Securely Delete Files

The Securely Delete Files wizard permanently and securely deletes the files and folders you specify.

Why use it:

A file deleted through Windows is not completely erased; even though you can't see the file, someone using easily available tools can recover it and view its contents. More on why deleting a file doesn't erase its contents.

Many people believe that when they delete a file, it is permanently erased. In actuality, the data within the file still remains on your drive. This is because of how an operating system saves and deletes files.

When you save a file, your PC stores the file name in a file allocation table. The data that actually makes up the file is saved directly on your computer's drive. When you delete a file, the computer removes the reference of the file from the file allocation table, but the data still remains on the drive. The space occupied by that data is marked as "free space" and is available for overwriting by other newly saved files. But, the data remains on the drive until another file is saved over it.

Even though you can't see the file (for example, through Windows Explorer), someone using easily available tools can recover the file and view its contents. For sensitive data, this poses a security risk, and can lead to confidential information falling into the wrong hands.

Incinerating files erases the data remnants and tracks left by deleted files. The Incinerator erases data by overwriting it with random characters.

For confidential data you have deleted, use the Securely Delete Files wizard to completely erase all data remnants.

Instructions:

The wizard has several screens to guide you through the process. Click a screen name below for more information:

Incinerator: Securely Delete Files

To access:

What it does:

Why use it:

Instructions: