Comments on: How To Protect Sensitive Information by Erasing Your Hard Disk Completely http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-protect-sensitive-information-by-securely-delete-data-from-your-hard-disk/ Cool Websites, Software and Internet Tips Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:28:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dean http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-protect-sensitive-information-by-securely-delete-data-from-your-hard-disk/#comment-398550 Dean Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:49:42 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=21279#comment-398550 I just have a question for you guys, waiting for an answer with a big signifiance for me.So, if you have in your computer a file(word,jpeg,txt,xcel...any kind of file)and you transfer this file in other computer(using a memory stick,cd,e-mail,etc)there is something in that file as a specific information about your computer(the source),something as an ID of the source computer or...let's say something about the serial number of your OS?Something which can identify exactly the source computer?Something as a fingerprint?I was asking myself which is the answer and I was asking others,also.No answer, up to this point!Thank you anticipate for your support! I just have a question for you guys, waiting for an answer with a big signifiance for me.So, if you have in your computer a file(word,jpeg,txt,xcel…any kind of file)and you transfer this file in other computer(using a memory stick,cd,e-mail,etc)there is something in that file as a specific information about your computer(the source),something as an ID of the source computer or…let’s say something about the serial number of your OS?Something which can identify exactly the source computer?Something as a fingerprint?I was asking myself which is the answer and I was asking others,also.No answer, up to this point!Thank you anticipate for your support!

]]> By: Ddx30 http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-protect-sensitive-information-by-securely-delete-data-from-your-hard-disk/#comment-395042 Ddx30 Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:06:11 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=21279#comment-395042 I did try Eraser, but recuva will always find back the files eraser was supposed to delete, also when cleaning empty space in the disk... many times. I found out that Wipedisk and wipefile both do much better clearing content form the HDD, beyond recuva in normal mode (never had patience to go in deep scan :-) I am not related in any way or form with the wipedisk and wipefile creators, distributors colaborators, coders or whatever, I just use them. I did try Eraser, but recuva will always find back the files eraser was supposed to delete, also when cleaning empty space in the disk… many times. I found out that Wipedisk and wipefile both do much better clearing content form the HDD, beyond recuva in normal mode (never had patience to go in deep scan :-)
I am not related in any way or form with the wipedisk and wipefile creators, distributors colaborators, coders or whatever, I just use them.

]]> By: Prajesh http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-protect-sensitive-information-by-securely-delete-data-from-your-hard-disk/#comment-394778 Prajesh Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:27:17 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=21279#comment-394778 revo uninstaller has the feature of unrecoverable delete. but this deletes only the previously deleted or formatted data on your hard drive. revo uninstaller has the feature of unrecoverable delete. but this deletes only the previously deleted or formatted data on your hard drive.

]]> By: Dave P http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-protect-sensitive-information-by-securely-delete-data-from-your-hard-disk/#comment-394653 Dave P Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:09:08 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=21279#comment-394653 Eraser does it all. It can create a nuke disk for full drive wiping. In addition to integrating with the context menu, it can also integrate with the Recycle Bin to securely erase files in there. Lastly it can overwrite unused space on a drive to wipe out tracks left by temporary files and others which don't go through the recycle bin. Eraser does it all. It can create a nuke disk for full drive wiping. In addition to integrating with the context menu, it can also integrate with the Recycle Bin to securely erase files in there. Lastly it can overwrite unused space on a drive to wipe out tracks left by temporary files and others which don’t go through the recycle bin.

]]> By: Sergio http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-protect-sensitive-information-by-securely-delete-data-from-your-hard-disk/#comment-394640 Sergio Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:07:05 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=21279#comment-394640 or you know, stick your harddrive in the microwave for 1:00 minute. Or sweep a big magnet back and forth many times will do the trick. or you know, stick your harddrive in the microwave for 1:00 minute.

Or sweep a big magnet back and forth many times will do the trick.

]]> By: Matrik http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-protect-sensitive-information-by-securely-delete-data-from-your-hard-disk/#comment-394634 Matrik Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:49:52 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=21279#comment-394634 @Neo Recuva is a great program for recovering deleted files. http://www.recuva.com/ @Neo Recuva is a great program for recovering deleted files.

http://www.recuva.com/

]]> By: Neo http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-protect-sensitive-information-by-securely-delete-data-from-your-hard-disk/#comment-394603 Neo Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:48:55 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=21279#comment-394603 Nice tips... but how about writing on how to retrieve them? ;) Nice tips… but how about writing on how to retrieve them? ;)

]]> By: Varun Kashyap http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-protect-sensitive-information-by-securely-delete-data-from-your-hard-disk/#comment-394600 Varun Kashyap Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:29:52 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=21279#comment-394600 Awesome, Good one Martin, Thanks for the info Awesome, Good one Martin, Thanks for the info

]]> By: Martin http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-protect-sensitive-information-by-securely-delete-data-from-your-hard-disk/#comment-394599 Martin Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:26:15 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=21279#comment-394599 For Linux users (Ubuntu is my flavour) you can use Shred and/or Wipe which will do the same as mentioned in this article. Shred comes by default in the latest versions of Ubuntu but Wipe will have to be installed. Open a terminal window and type sudo apt-get install wipe Then, for greater convenience, you can add Shred and Wipe to your right-click options. To do that you'll need to install Nautilus Actions, so again open a terminal window and this time type sudo apt-get install nautilus-actions Once installed just follow these instructions : Go to System > Preferences > Nautilus Actions Configuration <strong>FOR SHRED</strong> : Click Add and use these settings : Label= Shred This File : Tooltip= shred utility to securely erase files : Icon= gtk-dialog-warning : click "Add" button : Path= shred : Parameters= -f -u -v -z %M <strong>FOR WIPE</strong> : Click Add and use these settings : Label= Wipe This ENTIRE Folder : Tooltip= "Wipes" the ENTIRE contents of the folder and then the folder itself : Icon= gtk-dialog-warning : click "Add" button : Path= wipe : Parameters= -f -r -s %M : Select Conditions tab and click "Both" : Click OK > OK > Close ** A reboot may be required to see both options when right-clicking ** For Linux users (Ubuntu is my flavour) you can use Shred and/or Wipe which will do the same as mentioned in this article. Shred comes by default in the latest versions of Ubuntu but Wipe will have to be installed. Open a terminal window and type

sudo apt-get install wipe

Then, for greater convenience, you can add Shred and Wipe to your right-click options. To do that you’ll need to install Nautilus Actions, so again open a terminal window and this time type

sudo apt-get install nautilus-actions

Once installed just follow these instructions
: Go to System > Preferences > Nautilus Actions Configuration

FOR SHRED
: Click Add and use these settings
: Label= Shred This File
: Tooltip= shred utility to securely erase files
: Icon= gtk-dialog-warning
: click “Add” button
: Path= shred
: Parameters= -f -u -v -z %M

FOR WIPE
: Click Add and use these settings
: Label= Wipe This ENTIRE Folder
: Tooltip= “Wipes” the ENTIRE contents of the folder and then the folder itself
: Icon= gtk-dialog-warning
: click “Add” button
: Path= wipe
: Parameters= -f -r -s %M
: Select Conditions tab and click “Both”
: Click OK > OK > Close
** A reboot may be required to see both options when right-clicking **

]]> By: Chris http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-protect-sensitive-information-by-securely-delete-data-from-your-hard-disk/#comment-394573 Chris Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:53:47 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=21279#comment-394573 Killdisk from Active works like a champ for me each time. Dos based and windows based interfaces allow me to wipe drives how ever i like and how every many passes i like. Killdisk from Active works like a champ for me each time. Dos based and windows based interfaces allow me to wipe drives how ever i like and how every many passes i like.

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