Deleting info on PC

[Asta]

Has anyone seen the following for deleting any files or SS info from a personal computer:
"Securely File Shredder" It claims to remove/shred any file - "...can permanently delete data from your system ." If you know of this, do you think it's reliable?

https://securely-file-shredder.en.lo4d.com/windows

 

[Wayfaerer]

I'm just going to take my hard drives out and bury them beforehand.

 

[Throwaway9787]

Use dban. Or just encrypt your hdd altogether

 

[bLack_miLk]

Secur3 eraser is a reliable software for Windows users, bleachbit works fine on ubuntu systems, in general u should clean ur cache once in a while with simple software tools like ccleaner and or encryption software like veracrypt should prevent others from finding ur sensitive information to begin with...

 

[Asta]

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply, and for the link!

 

[iinner]

Privazer/Ccleaner is good too.

 

[ImSorryEmma]

if you want to get rid of evidence that you were on this site only and nothing else then simply clear cookies and browsing the history, uninstall the browser at most

however, if you have actual files like tutorial videos, PDFs, text files on how to commit suicide then I would recommend to burn a Ubuntu ISO to a USB then use the disk utility tool to format the hard drive and overwrite the data with 0's so it will be impossible to recover the data in any way. You don't need to physically destroy the drive as someone else could find a use for it to get rid of the evidence.

 

[oopswronglife]

Tell us more about what you specifically want to do. Do you want to erase an entire device or hard drive or just some files on a device you want to keep using normally without resetting things etc? The latter is harder and depends on the specific system.

There are built in tools in most operating systems you can use to format and delete (if you are trying to do an entire drive) and they work as good or better than third party software. Third party software is often malware or spyware too so don't just install something because Google served it up as proper. I wouldn't use the one in that link myself. Looks too sketchy.

If you are trying to delete specific files on a device you are still using that's harder as deleting doesn't actually remove the file from the hard drive or SSD, it just removes the "label" on that file and relabels it as "blank" space that is available to be used, but space isn't used in some exact order so you can't say when it will or will not be written over, and even then it's not entirely gone until it's written over a few times. Until then its still there physically on the disk, but just like a paper in a filing cabinet shoved between folders or in an unlabeled folder mostly full of blank paper. Someone who looks hard enough can find it.

However, the simplest way to deal with this is using encryption (fancy very difficult math some software does to lock things with codes/passwords) can make things a lot easier as you don't have to worry so much about deleting since without the codes is mostly impossible for anyone to decrypt things. The math takes SOOO long to undo without the codes that even a computer would need years or more. You don't need to be an expert to do this and there are some fairly simple options depending on the operating system. You can even encrypt the entire device so EVERYTHING is locked with the fancy math until you unlock it to turn it on. Of course once its on its open so you need to make sure to lock it again or turn it off when you aren't using it. This is probably the easiest way for you as once you set it up all you have to do is put in your password to unlock it and log in, using the device like normal.

Give us your specific needs (wiping a whole disk vs specific files on a device you want to keep using etc) and device types and operating systems and maybe we can give better suggestions. It sounds absolutely overwhelming but you really can be safe without needing to be super technical or a programmer etc. Most of this stuff is just a password or one or two clicks to lock or delete once you have the directions.

 

[Asta]

Thanks so much - you are all the most helpful folks ever!
OK, Oops, just want to delete any files from my PC that pertain to exiting. I have windows 7. Once this is done, I won't be using the PC again as I'll have flown the coop :) This probably isn't relative, but I downloaded a PN/browser called "Epic" - don't know if it's really reliable, but couldn't download Tor. (Thanks, Emma, for the reminder about clearing cookies, etc. I'll definitely delete all the browsers, too.) I've watched enough Forensic Files to know that they're able to find anything that's just been merely deleted.

 

[oopswronglife]

Thanks so much - you are all the most helpful folks ever!
OK, Oops, just want to delete any files from my PC that pertain to exiting. I have windows 7. Once this is done, I won't be using the PC again as I'll have flown the coop :) This probably isn't relative, but I downloaded a PN/browser called "Epic" - don't know if it's really reliable, but couldn't download Tor. (Thanks, Emma, for the reminder about clearing cookies, etc. I'll definitely delete all the browsers, too.) I've watched enough Forensic Files to know that they're able to find anything that's just been merely deleted.

Are you just trying to keep anyone who might pop by from snooping? Or do you want no trace of it after you go for propriety reasons? I will research Windows 7 encryption options.

Epic browser is not really worth anything (sorry) as it and all "private browsing" modes only keep the history off of your specific device so someone else can't see it in the browser history if they use the computer. It doesn't keep you from being tracked by police or anything serious if that's your goal.

 

[Asta]

Sorry to learn that, Oops. I'll try harder to get Tor again. I had it before my puter needed to be replaced. When I tried to sign up for SS back in June, it wouldn't let me, so I had to go through Chrome and then switch back to Epic, which I thought meant it was OK.

The answer would be "want no trace of it" (exiting info files) after leaving, in case the "bears" try to find anything. As a matter of interest, after one of my friends left, they didn't even look for her laptop, which was in the truck of her car, parked at a hotel. They did call me after finding my # on her phone - it was rather scary, but what could they do when I was clear across the country?

 

[oopswronglife]

The answer would be "want no trace of it" (exiting info files) after leaving, in case the "bears" try to find anything.

Full disk encryption is the easiest way for daily use because you can just log out before you do the deed and nobody is going to be able to break the encryption...PLUS if you change your mind or fail you can still use your computer later. Another option if you are SURE you are ready to go is physical destruction. Just delete the files and then unscrew the hard drive or SSD (really simple) and smash it or drill some holes in it. And truthfully they aren't going to spend time trying to break any encryption or do some deep recovery anyway...they will MAYBE go for low hanging fruit and look at recently deleted files or things in the recycle bin etc.

What version of Windows 7 do you have? Only "Ultimate" (you might have this) and "Enterprise" (highly unlikely you have this) have built in encryption via Bitlocker. On Windows 8 and 10 its also only the "Pro/Enterprise" editions. Otherwise it's not going to be simple as far as I know. There is a method using software called Veracrypt to do it on Windows 7 Home editions but I think that might be offputting to you as its a bit obtuse to set up. Might be able to find a simple file only encryption that will work on Windows 7 where you can just lock up those private things.

 

[Asta]

Thanks again for going to all this trouble! How do you find out which version of Windows 7 ? Am not very puter savvy :(

 

[PatKat]

Cheap and effective electromagnet or a drill.

Destroy a Hard Drive – the Cheap and Easy Method | Tech Club

my PC Techs delivers fast and reliable computer repair, onsite IT support and computer services to Phoenix Arizona.

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[Laststop]

Has anyone seen the following for deleting any files or SS info from a personal computer:
"Securely File Shredder" It claims to remove/shred any file - "...can permanently delete data from your system ." If you know of this, do you think it's reliable?

https://securely-file-shredder.en.lo4d.com/windows

I have lots of computers, and love them. I've been doing the work getting ready to CTB, if I do. That means getting rid of things I've been putting off. Including old hard-drives. I have equipment to mount them on my current computer, just like any other drive. I formatted them, then bashed the hell out of them. I had one crappy SSD that I broke in a zillion pieces, and the regular SATA (and one old IDE) drives I had I opened, scratched the surface of the platter very deeply, and took two locking pliers and bent it in different directions a bunch of times. Then threw them away. As for the one(s) in your system(s), you can do the same. If you didn't already know, it's very common to find used computers without hard-drives. So if you plan on giving away what you have instead of trashing all of the hardware, giving it away without a HDD/SSD is common. I wouldn't feel like you need to jump through hoops deleting what's in storage just so you can leave a drive.

 

[Asta]

Appreciate your advice and help, everyone - you're the best!

 

[oopswronglife]

How do you find out which version of Windows 7

1. Click on the Start Button on bottom left
2. See that box in the bottom where you can type? Type "winver" in it and hit ENTER button
3. A box should pop up with version info

YouTube Video showing how if you are more visual:

 

[Asta]

It says Home Premium, Oops. Here's a snip:

 

[oopswronglife]

It says Home Premium, Oops.

Yeah unfortunately the easier method with Bitlocker built in doesn't work on Windows 7 Home versions I am looking for a simple one or two click/drag and drop option but Windows and esp Windows 7 makes it harder. Worst case you can physically destroy and/or format the drive a few times and not have to worry...but lets see if we can find options.

 

[oopswronglife]

Still working on this. Not ignoring you. Will post here when I find something for encryption that I think you would want to deal with. But if the need for deletion arises before then just delete as normal and plan to format or destroy the drive at the end.

 

[Laststop]

Still working on this. Not ignoring you. Will post here when I find something for encryption that I think you would want to deal with. But if the need for deletion arises before then just delete as normal and plan to format or destroy the drive at the end.
[/QUOTE

A lot depends on what you're trying to do. If You're going to CTB, a format followed with physically destroying the drive is all you need to do. To me it's a waste of time to encrypt a whole drive if you're just going to destroy it. If you've never done it before, a whole drive can take a long time. If, on the other hand, you want to keep data, but want it to be safe from others seeing it if you decide to CTB without destroying your physical drive, for whatever reason, I would encrypt it then. Or, for more flexibility, have the data on an external storage device that is encrypted. That way you could get rid of your computer, destroying the hard-drive, and still have the data. Veracrypt is a good cross platforn (and free) program I would recommend.

 

[oopswronglife]

veracrypt

Veracrypt is going to be beyond the OPs skillset. We need a reliable drag and drop/one click solution. Not one requiring the kind of setup and mounting volumes etc..like Veracrypt requires.

 

[Laststop]

Veracrypt is going to be beyond the OPs skillset. We need a reliable drag and drop/one click solution. Not one requiring the kind of setup and mounting volumes etc..like Veracrypt requires.

I guess you're right.

 

[Asta]

I know you wouldn't ignore a person, Oops. I'm sorry you're going to all this trouble, though. Ctb-ing won't be soon - perhaps 2 or 3 months or even longer if I can "man up" (or "woman up"?) and tough it out. When the time comes, I'd like to keep the hard drive, not destroy it, so it can be sold after I'm gone, maybe. Like you said, "...want to keep data, but want it to be safe from others seeing it if you decide to CTB without destroying your physical drive"
Is a "cigar" an "external storage device"? I have two of those. I really appreciate all you're doing to help and taking so much of your time with this!! You're a wonderful friend!

 

[Laststop]

I know you wouldn't ignore a person, Oops. I'm sorry you're going to all this trouble, though. Ctb-ing won't be soon - perhaps 2 or 3 months or even longer if I can "man up" (or "woman up"?) and tough it out. When the time comes, I'd like to keep the hard drive, not destroy it, so it can be sold after I'm gone, maybe. Like you said, "...want to keep data, but want it to be safe from others seeing it if you decide to CTB without destroying your physical drive"
Is a "cigar" an "external storage device"? I have two of those. I really appreciate all you're doing to help and taking so much of your time with this!! You're a wonderful friend!

If by "cigar" you mean a USB stick, or flash drive, yes. Any storage device you can put files on electronically. USB flash drives are good because you can easily move data around to and from it to other devices. However, the limitation is that you have to use a computer that has the encryption software on it to encrypt the files or folders to the flash drive. And you'll need the same software to decrypt it. The good news is that, if you use free open source software it'll be easy to put it on any computer (smartphone, tablet, etc) where you can decrypt it later. It sounds like @oopswronglife is working with you to help you get the right solution. I'm sure he, or she, is taking all of this into account.