Erasing files and folders using the Delete function only sends them to the Recycle Bin. To permanently delete the data, you have to empty your Recycle Bin, but emptying the Reclye Bin only removes the pointer to files and folders, allowing users to overwrite data on the sectors where the deleted files were stored. For this reason, one can easily recover deleted files using a powerful data recovery application like previously featured Recuva. This is why it’s always advisable to use data shredding tools to securely remove data off the hard disk in order to prevent private information from being compromised. In the past, we have covered quite a few data shredders, such as xShredder (reviewed here) and TurboShredder (reviewed here). Today, we came across a portable data shredding software called EraserDrop, which places a shell icon on your desktop, and allows you to delete files and folders just by dragging them over it. It is, effectively, an alternative to the Recycle Bin for files that you plan to shred. Additionally, it supports a total of 5 file shredding techniques including Gutmann, DoD 8-306 E-C and E, Schneier’s Method, DoD 8-306 E and Pseudorandom. Each technique uses a different number of data deletion passes to ensure secure deletion of the selected files.
The application does not have an interface, and places an icon on the desktop. It can be set to Show/ Hide using a defined hotkey.
Right-click the icon to reveal options, such as Tasks, Options, Reload, Hide and Terminate All Jobs. The Tasks menu contains options to Wipe Recycle Bin and Wipe Free Space.
Settings related to Eraser Method, application behavior and GUI can be changed from the Options tab. You can also set a hotkey for enabling/ disabling the desktop icon, and choose between Gutmann, DoD 8-306 E, C and E, Schneier’s,DoD 8-306 E and Pseudorandom data shredding techniques.
Whenever you erase data from your system, it generates a erasing report with information including Total Items Wiped, Total Time, Dota Area Wiped, Total Errors, Total Failures etc.
The application works on both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8.
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