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Overview

Files may be securely deleted using File Shredder. File Shredder is a 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 operating system.

Why should you securely delete/shred information?

There are many software tools for the retrieval of deleted files. Those tools, often referred to as "file recovery" software, are taking advantage of shortcoming in the "delete" command that we all use regularly to delete files. Actually, the "delete" operation only removes information from files, so they can't be found by the operating system. It can be 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 overwriting the file(s) with random series of binary data multiple times. This process is often called shredding. 

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. For assistance using File Shredder, please check their 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 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 random binary digits.



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ITS Help Desk

(850) 474-2075
helpdesk@uwf.edu

 

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