Shred

Having your data dispersed and accessed by unauthorized individuals is obviously a nightmare, but there are lots of software solutions that can prevent it from happening. Shred is one of them since it can securely remove data and free space from your computer so that they cannot be recovered regardless of the tools that are employed in the process.

First of all, it need be mentioned that Shred is a portable Java-based application whose user interface does not impress in any way but gains points as far as accessibility is concerned.

All you need to do in order to take its capabilities for a spin is drag and drop any file or folder, with the app being able to work in batch mode as well. What differentiates the program from similar products on the market is the fact that, before initiating the shredding process itself, it overwrites your data with zeros and ones in order to bank on the randomness factor. This automatically implies that your data is inaccessible to recovery tools.

You may indicate the number of passes for each shredding operation in order to have full control over how many security layers ensure your data is safe from prying eyes. Your files and folders are renamed in the process, with several changes affecting the date/time attributes as well.

What’s more, the program could prove useful even in situations in which you have deleted content without shredding it since it can take care of any leftovers, which it can do by shredding free space.

In case you opt for “Overwhelm file system,” the app starts creating a host of small files so that the system releases the deleted file documents and only then gets rid of any traces. Other than that, you need to know that scheduling a shredding operation can also be done, once again after indicating the number of passes you deem necessary.

Shred is a reliable software utility that can ensure your data cannot be retrieved by anyone else once you decide it is no longer of any use to you. It can shred both data and free space, all in a lightweight GUI that should raise no issues whatsoever.