Secure file deletion ...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ronnie Davis
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Ronnie Davis

Looking for some recommendations for a program which allows secure file
deletion including previously deleted files (from recycle bin).

Many thanks.
 
Ronnie said:
Looking for some recommendations for a program which allows secure file
deletion including previously deleted files (from recycle bin).

Many thanks.
Click to expand...


Eraser
(Donationware) (open source GNU GPL)
Windows OS: DOS; Windows 95/98/ME/NT4/2000/XP
Languages: English
Description: Eraser is an advanced security tool which allows you to
completely remove sensitive data from your hard drive by overwriting it
several times with carefully selected patterns. Eraser's source code is
released under GNU General Public License. The patterns used for
overwriting are based on Peter Guttmann's paper "Secure Deletion of Data
from Magnetic and Solid-State Memory" and they are selected to
effectively remove magnetic remnants from the hard drive. Other methods
include the one defined in the National Industrial Security Program
Operating Manual of the US Department of Defence and overwriting with
pseudorandom data. You can also define your own overwriting methods.
NOTES: If you have an older version of Eraser installed on your system,
make sure you uninstall it before installing the latest version.
Company: Heidi Computers Limited Author: Sami Tolvanen
Buzzy's review:
http://www.buzzys.net/eraser.html
Home Page:
http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/
download v 5.7 (2003-08-03) (Eraser57Setup.zip) (2.6 MB)
http://download.sourceforge.net/eraser/Eraser57Setup.zip
(desc. rev.: 2003-12-06)
 
Eraser
(Donationware) (open source GNU GPL)
Windows OS: DOS; Windows 95/98/ME/NT4/2000/XP
Languages: English
Description: Eraser is an advanced security tool which allows you to
completely remove sensitive data from your hard drive by overwriting it
several times with carefully selected patterns. Eraser's source code is
released under GNU General Public License. The patterns used for
overwriting are based on Peter Guttmann's paper "Secure Deletion of Data
from Magnetic and Solid-State Memory" and they are selected to
effectively remove magnetic remnants from the hard drive. Other methods
include the one defined in the National Industrial Security Program
Operating Manual of the US Department of Defence and overwriting with
pseudorandom data. You can also define your own overwriting methods.
NOTES: If you have an older version of Eraser installed on your system,
make sure you uninstall it before installing the latest version.
Company: Heidi Computers Limited Author: Sami Tolvanen
Buzzy's review:
http://www.buzzys.net/eraser.html
Home Page:
http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/
download v 5.7 (2003-08-03) (Eraser57Setup.zip) (2.6 MB)
http://download.sourceforge.net/eraser/Eraser57Setup.zip
(desc. rev.: 2003-12-06)
Click to expand...

Can this be used to securely remove data that has been emptied from the
recycle bin? I have downloaded the program and can't see an option for
this?
 
Ronnie Davis wrote in
Can this be used to securely remove data that has been emptied from
the recycle bin? I have downloaded the program and can't see an option
for this?
Click to expand...

Set up an on-demand task with the "unused disk space" option.
 
<
[about Eraser]
Can this be used to securely remove data that has been emptied
from the recycle bin? I have downloaded the program and can't see
an option for this?
Click to expand...

Once the recycle bin has been emptied, the file pointers are gone,
so the best you can do is wipe all the free space on the partition.
Eraser can do that, but it may take a while, depending on your
settings and the amount of free space.

Before emptying the bin, you can also select 'Erase Recycle Bin'
from its context menu.
 
Ronnie said:
/snip/
Can this be used to securely remove data that has been emptied from the
recycle bin? I have downloaded the program and can't see an option for
this?
Click to expand...

Open Eraser and click: File > New Task
In the window select from Unused space on drive: Local Disk (C)
Then Select Task > Run
It may take up to an hour depending on the size and contents of your
hard drive.

If the previously deleted material is especially sensitive, repeat 3
times.

In the future, instead of emptying the recycle bin, right-click it and
select erase recycle bin.
 
Paul said:
Open Eraser and click: File > New Task
In the window select from Unused space on drive: Local Disk (C)
Then Select Task > Run
It may take up to an hour depending on the size and contents of your
hard drive.

If the previously deleted material is especially sensitive, repeat 3
times.
Click to expand...

Bluddy ell

That means if you have set 'Gutman' in preferences you will be
overwriting 105 times.

A bit extreme, Shirley.
 
jo said:
Paul Urquhart wrote:




Bluddy ell

That means if you have set 'Gutman' in preferences you will be
overwriting 105 times.

A bit extreme, Shirley.
Click to expand...


I assumed the OP (a novice user) was relying on the default settings
while the police got a search warrant ;-)
 
Paul said:
Eraser
(Donationware) (open source GNU GPL)
Click to expand...

It's NOT donationware; it's 100% free. The license file states,
in part: "This program is free software". No mention of donations
anywhere in the license.
 
Jock said:
Paul Urquhart wrote:




It's NOT donationware; it's 100% free. The license file states,
in part: "This program is free software". No mention of donations
anywhere in the license.
Click to expand...

Thanks for pointing that out. I copied this info from
Pricesslesswarehome, which perhaps needs correcting.
 
Susan said:
Donationware is correct. Licenses contain legal requirements. This is
a request. See:

http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/

In the upper right-hand corner (and also further down the page)

"HELP US KEEP YOUR PRIVACY! via Cr.Card/PayPal" (EUR 15.00)
Click to expand...

Hi Susan,

Version 5.7 is indeed FREE software, as mentioned in the About box of
the app itself and its documentation. Just because the web site above
is attempting to charge a fee doesn't make it DonationWare. You go by
what the app itself (and its license) states -- not some web site.
 
Jock said:
Hi Susan,

Version 5.7 is indeed FREE software, as mentioned in the About box of
the app itself and its documentation. Just because the web site above
is attempting to charge a fee doesn't make it DonationWare. You go by
what the app itself (and its license) states -- not some web site.
Click to expand...

Yes, it is free software.

The "some web site" above is the *author's* web site.

1. The web site says it's free.
2. The web site is *not* "attempting to charge a fee".
3. The web site is asking for a *voluntary* contribution.

The Ware Glossary's definition of Donationware:
"Donationware: monetary contribution requested (optional)".

Yes, it is free software. Yes, it is Donationware.

For other alt.comp.freeware "ware" definitions see:
http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/acf/WareGlossary.php

HTH

Susan
 
Susan said:
The web site is asking for a *voluntary* contribution.
Click to expand...

The app is still freeware regardless as to what the website decides
to state now. It never used to ask for donations. An app's status
doesn't change due to a web site change. All that matters is what
the app itself states in its license, which, in Eraser's case, is
free with no mention of donations anywhere.

Besides, if you want to get really technical: Eraser is open-source
under the GPL agreement. This means I can re-compile it myself and
have my own fully-working v5.7 that I built, with no need to donate
anything to anyone.
 
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