UltraShredder

UltraShredder deletes sensitive files by overwriting them with random characters which are then saved to disk, before the file is deleted from the hard drive. The recycle bin is bypassed here, so that the file cannot be recovered anymore by normal means or file recovery software.

The program does not require installation so that it can be run from a portable USB device, a CD, DVD, or a hard drive after it has been downloaded and unpacked.

You add files that you want to securely delete via drag and drop after you have started the program on your PC. You can add as many files and folders as you like. The only option you can configure before hitting the Shred button is the number of overwrites you want the program to perform.

The program itself is very basic. It works well for files that are still on the system, and not at all in situations where you have already deleted the files for instance. For that purpose, a program like Eraser comes in handy which can be used for exactly that.

You basically point Eraser to a partition or hard drive that is connected to your computer, and let it delete all free disk space that is currently not used by files. The idea here is that files cannot be recovered if the free disk space where they might reside on is erased completely.

As with every program of its kind, it needs to be noted that it only works for data on conventional platter based hard drives, and not thorough enough for flash based storage devices like Solid State Drives.

If you prefer a modern program to delete files on the computer so that they can't be recovered anymore, I suggest you try Hardwipe. The program is a modern version of UltraShredder that comes with a variety of options, including various algorithms to delete files, an option to wipe an entire hard drive, and options to clean a drive's space.

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