Risks of Data Recovery
We’ve all heard horror stories about purchased “at the hands of” second-hand hard drives, on which there were a lot of personal (sometimes – too personal) data left over from the previous owner. Or (even worse) – stories about the interception of financial data to help skilled thieves can actually destroy a person financially.
You can say, “it’ll never happen to me”, “I always remove the personal data”, “I format the drive before you get rid of it.” But not so simple as you it seems. Usually the information that you supposedly deleted from your computer, and subsequently stored on its hard drive!
The fact that the usual “delete” a file (for example, after the Trash Windows), in reality it does not disappear. The contents of the file remains on disk until another file is written over it. The same thing (mostly) happens when formatting the media. Most of the data remains available for recovery, deleted data only available on disk.
Preventing the risk of recovery
To ensure maximum protection against unwanted recover deleted files you want to overwrite / delete / erase these files as busy space and freedom. In addition, you must remove the swap file Windows, which may also contain personal information that you would not want to give to somebody else.
- The ideal policy of cleaning the free space on a regular basis. I believe that there is nothing complicated about the operation to destroy data on your hard drive after a full format. To clear space on larger hard drives, a single pass of random data must be more than enough. For example, after one pass of random data fill, PC Inspector File Recovery is only a few files with random data set.
But on smaller drives program-cleaners usually leave more files with random data, and these data can be restored with different levels of probability as a function of the quality of the template removal.
- Since the hard drives clean of unwanted data is often time consuming, some users are using it to simultaneously perform the operation complete destruction of data. But note that in this case, the individual files and folders can not undergo the procedure or treatment permanently remove data, since these processes may conflict with each other.
- One of the programs discussed below (Eraser) conducts clean the swap file, but you need to change some Windows. This can be done using a utility Ultimate Windows Tweaker (in its “Advanced settings”) or with the help of this manual . You can also force the operating system to encrypt the swap file (only for Windows Vista and 7). To do this, follow these steps:
1. Open a command line (Run).
2. Enter « fsutil behavior set EncryptPagingFile 1″ (without the quotes).
3. Restart the computer.
- If you need to erase the disc before you get rid of it, the program Darik’s Boot and Nuke (DBAN) is designed to do just that, but be prepared to spend time installing and updating Windows «from scratch” after that.
Browse the best free software to permanently remove data
Eraser allows you to easily add tasks to secure overwrite selected files and folders, free disk space, clusters, and baskets. This program can overwrite the selected region of data with different random data matrices (14 standard templates and the ability to create your own). Different built-in detailed help file, and fairly rapid reaction support forum. Eraser works with any drive (including IDE, SCSI, RAID), and file systems (FAT16, FAT32, NTFS).
In my testing to destruction of data on the hard disk of medium size (120 GB) it was very effective. After only one pass of overwriting data with a set of random data (more precisely – “simple pseudo-random data»), PC Inspector File Recovery found 0 bit meaningless file names (none of which can not be restored). Eraser also created informative reports about the files that he could not wipe (such as those that were in use).
If you’re familiar with sections of FAQ on the forum Eraser, you can also use it to delete data from your browser’s cache, temporary files, cookies, and other data, but CCleaner is easier to use for such treatment (see below).
The main drawback of the program Eraser is the excessive consumption of memory. This is especially felt when cleaning the individual folders and files. If you do begins to interfere, you can delete the file «Task List.ersx» (thus removed all the existing problems). It can be found in the user folder (AppData – Local), or (easier) to use the search system. I advise you to export existing problems at an early stage to be able to import them later (if the program will stop.)
The second program of this review – File Shredder . This program can be as easy to free space by deleting files and irreversibly erase them. File Shredder is a small size, simple interface and very easy to use. It uses much less memory than Eraser, but it requires more CPU power. Cons – no task scheduler and built-in help and online help is very limited.
By default, File Shredder uses a standard file shredder DoD (5220-22.M), but has yet to select the other four patterns (compared with fourteen in Eraser). Maybe a few slow in cleaning up unneeded and obsolete files, and so (depending on the circumstances) it is sometimes better to set it to one or two phases.
Cleaning the File Shredder works somewhat differently than in the Eraser, and leaves after an operation to more temporary files with meaningless information (while after work Eraser can do nothing). However, despite this, I could not do vseravno recover after full erase using the File Shredder.
As Eraser, File Shredder and have an extension for Windows Explorer, you can use to send a file or folder to permanently delete from the context menu.
The next program that is included in this review – CCleaner is different in that rather well acquainted with the “hiding place” where they can accumulate a variety of data. It will help you find the information created and abandoned system, browser and other programs. All this trash is hard to find and remove it, so CCleaner has advantages over other instruments for the destruction of files. But before you use it to permanently remove data, go to your settings (Settings – Settings), enable the option “Permanently erase (Longer)” and select the method of overwriting.
CCleaner also can carry out overwritten space. If you want to use this function again, go to Settings (settings – Settings) and check the box next to the inscription “Empty space MFT». Just do not forget to deselect this if you want to purge took place more quickly.
Finally, CCleaner also cleans files and folders specified by the user. This usually their first to be made in a special list (Settings – Enable) and note the item “Other files and folders” in the “Cleaning”. Alternatively, it is possible and this option when data is moved to the Trash, and then (using CCleaner) undergo irreversible destruction. It seems it should be noted that the cleaning procedure specified by the user files and folders in a few other programs easier.
The last of the major programs of this review – SDelete . The utility has no graphical user interface and runs from the command line. As a template for a specific number of passes erase data, it uses standard DoD (5220-22.M). With SDelete can permanently destroy files and folders, or to clean up disk space. Like other current programs, it simply means a remote file, and writes several times over a random set of data. But despite the similarity of work, I think this program less effective in the treatment process in a single pass (some pieces of data have been recognized by PC Inspector).
Since SDelete not have its own interface for managing this tool commands are used DOS, you can easily copy and paste into the command line. After downloading the program, open a command prompt (Run), type «CMD», and type the command, for example «sdelete-p 2-zc:» (without the quotes) to clear the free space with a double pass. For detailed instructions on using SDelete visit the website of the develope
We’ve all heard horror stories about purchased “at the hands of” second-hand hard drives, on which there were a lot of personal (sometimes – too personal) data left over from the previous owner. Or (even worse) – stories about the interception of financial data to help skilled thieves can actually destroy a person financially.
You can say, “it’ll never happen to me”, “I always remove the personal data”, “I format the drive before you get rid of it.” But not so simple as you it seems. Usually the information that you supposedly deleted from your computer, and subsequently stored on its hard drive!
The fact that the usual “delete” a file (for example, after the Trash Windows), in reality it does not disappear. The contents of the file remains on disk until another file is written over it. The same thing (mostly) happens when formatting the media. Most of the data remains available for recovery, deleted data only available on disk.
Preventing the risk of recovery
To ensure maximum protection against unwanted recover deleted files you want to overwrite / delete / erase these files as busy space and freedom. In addition, you must remove the swap file Windows, which may also contain personal information that you would not want to give to somebody else.
- The ideal policy of cleaning the free space on a regular basis. I believe that there is nothing complicated about the operation to destroy data on your hard drive after a full format. To clear space on larger hard drives, a single pass of random data must be more than enough. For example, after one pass of random data fill, PC Inspector File Recovery is only a few files with random data set.
But on smaller drives program-cleaners usually leave more files with random data, and these data can be restored with different levels of probability as a function of the quality of the template removal.
- Since the hard drives clean of unwanted data is often time consuming, some users are using it to simultaneously perform the operation complete destruction of data. But note that in this case, the individual files and folders can not undergo the procedure or treatment permanently remove data, since these processes may conflict with each other.
- One of the programs discussed below (Eraser) conducts clean the swap file, but you need to change some Windows. This can be done using a utility Ultimate Windows Tweaker (in its “Advanced settings”) or with the help of this manual . You can also force the operating system to encrypt the swap file (only for Windows Vista and 7). To do this, follow these steps:
1. Open a command line (Run).
2. Enter « fsutil behavior set EncryptPagingFile 1″ (without the quotes).
3. Restart the computer.
- If you need to erase the disc before you get rid of it, the program Darik’s Boot and Nuke (DBAN) is designed to do just that, but be prepared to spend time installing and updating Windows «from scratch” after that.
Browse the best free software to permanently remove data
Eraser allows you to easily add tasks to secure overwrite selected files and folders, free disk space, clusters, and baskets. This program can overwrite the selected region of data with different random data matrices (14 standard templates and the ability to create your own). Different built-in detailed help file, and fairly rapid reaction support forum. Eraser works with any drive (including IDE, SCSI, RAID), and file systems (FAT16, FAT32, NTFS).
If you’re familiar with sections of FAQ on the forum Eraser, you can also use it to delete data from your browser’s cache, temporary files, cookies, and other data, but CCleaner is easier to use for such treatment (see below).
The main drawback of the program Eraser is the excessive consumption of memory. This is especially felt when cleaning the individual folders and files. If you do begins to interfere, you can delete the file «Task List.ersx» (thus removed all the existing problems). It can be found in the user folder (AppData – Local), or (easier) to use the search system. I advise you to export existing problems at an early stage to be able to import them later (if the program will stop.)
The second program of this review – File Shredder . This program can be as easy to free space by deleting files and irreversibly erase them. File Shredder is a small size, simple interface and very easy to use. It uses much less memory than Eraser, but it requires more CPU power. Cons – no task scheduler and built-in help and online help is very limited.
Cleaning the File Shredder works somewhat differently than in the Eraser, and leaves after an operation to more temporary files with meaningless information (while after work Eraser can do nothing). However, despite this, I could not do vseravno recover after full erase using the File Shredder.
As Eraser, File Shredder and have an extension for Windows Explorer, you can use to send a file or folder to permanently delete from the context menu.
The next program that is included in this review – CCleaner is different in that rather well acquainted with the “hiding place” where they can accumulate a variety of data. It will help you find the information created and abandoned system, browser and other programs. All this trash is hard to find and remove it, so CCleaner has advantages over other instruments for the destruction of files. But before you use it to permanently remove data, go to your settings (Settings – Settings), enable the option “Permanently erase (Longer)” and select the method of overwriting.
CCleaner also can carry out overwritten space. If you want to use this function again, go to Settings (settings – Settings) and check the box next to the inscription “Empty space MFT». Just do not forget to deselect this if you want to purge took place more quickly.
Finally, CCleaner also cleans files and folders specified by the user. This usually their first to be made in a special list (Settings – Enable) and note the item “Other files and folders” in the “Cleaning”. Alternatively, it is possible and this option when data is moved to the Trash, and then (using CCleaner) undergo irreversible destruction. It seems it should be noted that the cleaning procedure specified by the user files and folders in a few other programs easier.
The last of the major programs of this review – SDelete . The utility has no graphical user interface and runs from the command line. As a template for a specific number of passes erase data, it uses standard DoD (5220-22.M). With SDelete can permanently destroy files and folders, or to clean up disk space. Like other current programs, it simply means a remote file, and writes several times over a random set of data. But despite the similarity of work, I think this program less effective in the treatment process in a single pass (some pieces of data have been recognized by PC Inspector).
