File shredder

How to safely and permanently delete files with Panda Dome

Secure file shredding is a process that permanently and securely deletes information stored on a file so that it cannot be easily recovered.

Supported platforms:

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Supported platforms:

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How does secure file shredding work?

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Secure file shredding is a key tool for protecting your privacy. It is invaluable if you want to permanently delete confidential or sensitive information, such as personal, financial, or business data, to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. Remember, however, that the secure shredding process is irreversible, so you must be completely sure that you want to delete the file before carrying using it. Here’s how it works:

File deletion

More often than not, simply deleting a file (for example, by moving it to the Recycle Bin or using the ‘Delete’ key) does not remove it securely. The file can still be recovered using data recovery tools.

File overwriting

To properly delete a file, its contents must be overwritten with random data or zeros. This is done to hide the original content and make it extremely difficult or impossible to recover.

Multiple overwrites

To ensure secure file deletion, several overwrites are usually performed to increase security. This means that the file is overwritten with random data multiple times (for example 3, 7, or 35 times) to make it even more difficult to recover.

Metadata removal

In addition to overwriting the content of the file, it is also important to delete the metadata associated with it, such as location, creation date, owner, etc.

Defragmentation and cleanup

To make sure that no trace of previously deleted files remains, it is advisable (though this is not part of this feature) to defragment the hard drive and clean up the free space after file shredding.

Verification and testing

After file shredding, it is advisable to use data recovery tools to try to recover the file. If it cannot be recovered, it is a good indication that the file has been successfully removed. Remember, however, that the secure shredding process is irreversible, so you must be completely sure that you want to delete the file before carrying using it.

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