SEE: How to get users on board with essential security measures (free PDF) (TechRepublic) EraserĮraser can securely delete individual files, whole folders, entire disk drives or partitions, and even unused space on a disk. All three programs are compatible with any desktop version of Windows from XP to 10 Eraser, File Shredder, and Freeraser also work with Windows Server. In this article, we’ll look at three free products: Eraser, File Shredder, and Freeraser. Many such tools (free and paid) are available. To remove files, these programs support various erasure methods or algorithms, including ones defined by the US government. You can turn to a third-party deletion or shredding tool that fully deletes a file by overwriting it multiple times with random data so the file is virtually impossible to recover. You may want to completely and securely delete a file if it contains sensitive information, or if you plan to dispose of your computer and want to be sure no one can access or view the file. Must-read security coverageĪustralia, New Zealand Enterprises Spend Big on Security - But Will It Be Enough? And even then, a professional recovery product can often restore an overwritten file. Even if you bypass or empty the Recycle Bin, the file’s clusters still reside on the disk unless they’re overwritten with other data. We all know that deleting a file in Windows doesn’t actually remove it from your hard drive–that file may be stored in the Recycle Bin, which keeps it intact in case you wish to restore it. Here's a look at three such free programs: Eraser, File Shredder, and Freeraser. To make sure a deleted file can't be recovered, you'll need to use a third-party shredding tool.