To securely delete a file, it is very important to overwrite free space and the deleted data with random stuff so that the original files and folders will never be able to be recovered again using any kind of recovery software. Although there are several free software available which can securely wipe out the hard drive, xShredder is one open source app we will be using. If you are running xShredder on Windows Vista or Windows 7, you will need to run it with administrative privileges. Otherwise it will give an error.
To run xShredder with administrative privileges, just right click on xShredder shortcut on Desktop and select “Run as administrator”. The first thing you will notice while running xShredder for the first time is that it is in Dutch language by default. You can change the language by going to “Options -> Language (Optionen -> Language, Sprache)”.
There are four tabs on the main interface of xShredder. Saved erase jobs contains all the jobs that you have created. You can run xShredder wizard in order to create a new job or just press “Ctrl + N” to create a new job directly. The steps to securely erase a file using xShredder are a little complex and confusing. So I am giving a step by step process of erasing one file securely. You can apply the same method to securely delete multiple files, folders or even drives. Although xShredder is a complex program but once you start using it, you’ll start loving it. The greatest feature of xShredder is the number of deletion methods that it supports. What are your thoughts about this free software?
You may also consider reading how to delete files securely in Ubuntu Linux and deleting files on a Mac. Image credit: Businessman by Big Stock Photo.
