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Overview

Files may be securely deleted using File Shredder. File Shredder is free desktop application available on Windows for shredding (destroying) unwanted files beyond recovery. On Mac computers, files may be securely deleted using a feature built into the OS.

Why should you shred information?

There are quite a few software tools today for retrieval of deleted files. Those tools, often referred to as "file recovery" software, are taking advantage of shortcoming the "delete" command that we all use regularly to delete files. Actually, the "delete" operation 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.

What should be shredded?

Any information that you need to be completely deleted beyond recovery should be shredded. Before shredding a file, please ensure that you are not violating any State Records Laws or Sunshine Laws. For more information, please see the Records Management Overview.

 

How to shred files

File Shredder has been developed as fast, safe, and reliable tool to shred company files. The author of this program released it free under GNU licence. You are welcome to download File Shredder and use it without any restrictions. File Shredder is a simple, but powerful program that surpasses many commercial file shredders out there.

In File Shredder you can choose between 5 different shredding algorithms, each one gradually stronger than the previous one. It also has integrated Disk Wiper which uses shredding algorithm to wipe unused disk space. More on options of File Shredder check Online Help page.

The ability to securely delete files is built into the OS on Macs. To securely delete a file, first add the file to the Trash Bin. Instead of just emptying the trash, choose Finder > Secure Empty Trash. When you do this not only is the file removed from the Mac’s directory, but the hard drive space it occupied is overwritten with junk.



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