The most common way to delete files in Windows and Macintosh is
to drag the file into the Mac ``trash can'' or Windows
``recycling bin.'' While that removes it from the desktop it
does not remove it from the computer. In fact, you can restore
the file by simply opening the trash or recycling bin and
dragging it back to the desktop. Both the Mac and Windows allow
you to go one step further by emptying the trash which appears
to delete the file completely. The Mac, for example, asks you if you
are sure ``you want to remove the item in the trash
permanently.'' Windows asks if you're ``sure you want to delete
all of the items in the recycling bin.''
But neither method is permanent. Erasing a file doesn't actually
delete the data; it just removes the file name from the directory.
The data is still there. Deleting a The data is still there. Deleting a
file the standard way is a bit like crumpling up a piece of paper
and throwing it in the trash can rather than running it through a
shredder. The MS-DOS delete command doesn't have an
obvious ``undo'' feature but it too can easily be reversed.
This can be good news if you've accidentally deleted something.
But it's bad news if you want it permanently gone. Numerous
software products are available
that allow you to ``undelete'' such
files. ``Undelete'' from Executive
Software is one of many that will
allow you to recover deleted files
on Windows. There are versions
of VirtualLab data recovery
software for both Windows and
Macintosh. You can even try it
out for free.
At first glance, formatting a hard
disk sure seems like a pretty
good way to obliterate your data,
but it's not. The Windows Format
command will warn you that
``Formatting will erase ALL data
on this disk,'' but, again, that's not
entirely true. While it will make
the disk appear to be empty, that
data itself will not be erased. The
same is true with the fdisk
command which creates and
deletes hard drive partitions.
There are numerous programs
that can bring back seemingly
eradicated from formatted hard
drives. ``Recover it All'' from DTI
Data advertises that it can
``Recover data lost due to
Format, Fdisk, virus attack,
deletion and many other
scenarios.''
Someone looking to gather your
personal information from a
discarded disk drive doesn't even
need any particularly expensive
or exotic software. The popular
or exotic software. The popular
Norton System Works ($69)
includes Norton UnFormat and
Norton UnErase that can often do
the trick. But you don't even have
to spend anything to get your
hands on such software. If you
visit the File & Disk Management
section of Download.com, you'll
find numerous ``free to try''
programs designed to recover
deleted files or formatted disks.
In addition to the files that you
know about, your hard disk may
contain personal information in
``temporary'' files such as a
browser or print spooler cache.
These files are created
automatically but they are not
necessarily deleted automatically.
Another source of ``hidden''
personal information includes e-
mail programs which sometimes
archive your incoming and
outgoing messages.
Of course, anything sent via the
Internet might also be stored on a
server, a remote backup system
or someone else's computer.
During the Iran Contra scandal, it
was revealed Oliver North
thought he had destroyed
thousands of e-mail messages
only to find out they had been
archived from the e-mail system's
backup tapes.
Software Can Scrub Drive
Clean
Fortunately, there are many
programs -- including some that
are free -- that can protect your
privacy by ``sanitizing'' your hard
drive. The most common method
involves ``overwriting'' a file or an
entire disk by replacing the old
data with new ``null'' data such as
zeros. With the exception of top
secret documents, the U.S.
Department of Defense's
Department of Defense's
``clearing and sanitizing
standard'' recommends that
defense contractors ``overwrite
all addressable locations with a
character, its complement, then a
random character and verify.''
Another option -- which most of
us will probably never use is to
``disintegrate, incinerate,
pulverize, shred or melt.''
Unless you're engaged in
international espionage,
sanitizing a drive by overwriting
the data is probably adequate
protection but it is theoretically
possible for someone with the
resources of the National
Security Agency to recover the
data using very sophisticated
methods and equipment.
Still, Garfinkel and Shelat refer to
these extraordinary methods as
``exotic'' and conclude that
``simply overwriting user data
with one or two passes of random
data is probably sufficient.''
There are also a number of free
and shareware file erasure
programs that you can obtain
from Download.com and other file
downloading sites. ``Sure
Delete,'' from Wizard Industries
(www.wizard-industries.com) is
a free program that uses a wizard
interface to give you a ``clean,
secure, evidence-free hard drive
in a matter of minutes.''
Macintosh OS X users can
download a free copy of
SafeShred from CodeTek Studios
(www.codetek.com/) which
claims to provide ``a virtual file
shredder'' that completely shreds
the file. For $15 you can buy
ShredIt from Mireth Technologies
(www.mireth.com)
It Is Possible To Fully Erase Your Data For Security And Privacy Reasons==========
One very good "privacy" program is Evidence Eraser. Evidence Eraser scans your PC and securely removes all your "tracks". You can download on http://www.evidenceeraser.com/?hop=ihelpers
With these tools you can dispose
of your PC and keep your
secrets. Remember, you have
the right to remain silent. And so
does your discarded hard drive.
Drive Scrubbers
Autoclave - Secure Disk
Deletion Free
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