Securely delete

[zachtheterrible]

If u defrag ur computer after deleting a file that u dont want dug up, will it be securely erased? I have some rather nosy friends . . .

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

If u defrag ur computer after deleting a file that u dont want dug up, will it be securely erased? I have some rather nosy friends . . .

It's not guaranteed to be, but might well be! - Norton Utilities includes a utility which overwrites the actual sectors to more securely erase it, a normal delete just clears the FAT for the sector. From what I remember about Norton, you can set it for various degrees of wiping, where it does multiple writes with different patterns.

 

[grrr_arrghh]

also, there are quite a few programs (free downloads) that will write goobledegook onto the 'blank' sections of your harddrive, overwritting any deleted data.

can't think of any off hand, when i do i'll post back.

 

[plot]

use this free program:

**broken link removed**

 

[zachtheterrible]

The thing is (stupidly enough) I already deleted it, so thats y i need 2 create jibberish all over my drive. can that program do that? cuz i couldnt find anything about that

 

[Styx]

are you really that concerned?
What could you possibly have on your HD to warrent a data shread (get a linux liveCD and use a program called "shread")

Even secure deleteion does noy mean the data cannot be recovered - there are ways. All data (and with enough time) that has ever been stored on a HD can be recovered. The only secure way is to microwave your HD

 

[zachtheterrible]

ive got some emails that were saved on disk that were about some other pepl . . .