[Mike4Freedom]

There are cryptographic programs available that "secure delete" a file. They overwrite with all 1's and then do the normal delete. This feature is usually a utility that comes with crypto programs for no addiitional cost.

It can be used on a day to day basis to delete one file at a time, not a whole disk.

[sd-joe]

You can buy Norton Utilities from any software distributor. It includes a program that is called something like Disk Wipe that will securely wipe a drive. You can set it to various levels of security (or paranoi) including a government security level. It does multiple overwrites with various characters.

It is true that simply deleting data does not remove it from a drive, allowing it to be easily recovered. Even one or two overwrites will not make it totally secure from people with the correct equipment. But this heavy duty utility from Norton will do the job.

[Lael]

It can be used on a day to day basis to delete one file at a time, not a whole diskDo a Google search for "ERASER". It is a powerful erase program from Finland, currently being maintained by someone in Ireland.

It is freeware, and has a hoast of options. If you Right Click on the drive symbol, you will notice "erase unused space"...use it!

For added security, remember to turn off Virtual Memory...this ensures that the Swap File is erased as well.

Good luck!

[btcusn]

When stationed at Prearl Harbor, we used the ONLY 100% method of wiping a hard drive. 1st, crushed it with a sledge.
2nd Melted it into a puddle in a furnace.
Try reading THAT hard drive.
Jack

[luckystarmom]

They do more than write all ones. Usually it is a pattern of 1's, then 0's, then 1's and 0's.

That was the first type of computer program I ever wrote for a defense company when I was just out of college.

It's very simple, but a disk won't be clean unless it is re-written.