14 DAY TRIAL // Everybody is trying to accumulate as much information on the computer as possible and few of us think of the dumping process, of the obsolete files or of the items that we never want to be recovered, ever. There are some software developers that believe that erasing a file by using the most secure method is something that users may need, so they created applications designed to delete the files on your computer and never to be recovered from your hard drive.
One such application is Shred It. After installing it I wanted to see what it is about so I immediately looked for the help file to see what the author has to say about it. "Shred It is used to completely destroy the contents of a file so that it cannot be viewed by any means possible". This is written under the "What Is Shred It?" in the Help file.
The application is developed by Skylark Utilities and the price they are asking is $29.95. The trial period is 30 days and there are no limitations to using it. I have to mention from the start that the testing of Shred It was made in "cooperation" with GetDataBack for NTFS, a data recovery software.
You are probably wondering why would someone want to permanently delete all the data on a storage device beyond recognition? Well, the answer is simple as nowadays people tend to rely more and more on external storage devices. And you cannot refuse a friend when you are asked to lend a memory stick or a flash card. You may have some too personal data "stuffed" on it and you do not want others to find out. Here comes Shred It into action and helps you delete beyond recognition all your files.
When I first bumped into the application I though that there would not be too much to say about it. And, indeed, if you think about its purpose, what can you say about a software that deletes the files on your computer beyond recovery?
Installing the software is not complicated at all, and it goes smoothly without creating any problems. The interface is not much, as the developer preferred it simple and directed the effort towards the functionality of the application.
The menu bar comprises five menus that will allow the user to add files, create projects, move the files or customize the software to his/her needs. Creating projects is one option that drew my attention in particular as I did not know what purpose it could serve.
Shred It allows the user to add a number of files from different areas of the computer and save them into a special file. When you open this file all the added items will be displayed and ready for eternal erasing. This way, whenever you are asked for your portable storage device by a person you cannot refuse (your boss, wife, lover etc.) you can load the .srd file and quickly perform a delete.
Another interesting option is assigning a password for opening the program. This option is extremely useful in order to prevent intrusive eyes from seeing what are your files programmed for deleting. This way only you will be able to open the SRD files and handle them.
There are four shredding methods available: Basic, Simple, Secure and Military. The last two options are available for the registered users, so the test I made involved the next best thing, Simple Shred. I know it does not sound too convincing, but even this inferior method gave a good feedback.
The Basic shred, like all the other deleting methods will recondition the allocated space. The protection when using this method is minimum and of course the speed with which the shredding is done is the fastest.
A Simple Shred offers a moderate protection against recovering the erased files. The speed is also pretty good, but the task will be performed slower than the first method. The developer recommends it for home users that want to protect their personal documents, account info etc.
The business class method is Secure Shred. According to the author, it provides excellent protection and adequate speed and recommends it for business users that want to protect their trade secrets and financial reports.
The last erasing method available is called Military Shred and judging by its name this should be the most secure way to get rid of your secrets. Speed, however, will be sacrificed in order to achieve the mega protection you want.
Unfortunately, I could not use the last two methods, but I can tell you that using Simple Shred method deleted the files and I could not recover them with GetDataBack, which is also a home use application designed to do exactly the opposite of Shred It. GetDataBack did not even see the shred items so I guess this proves that Shred It performs a pretty secure deletion.
The Good
The application is handled very easily and the results are really amazing. I could not recover the shred items, no matter the retrieval method I used with GetDataBack.
Protecting the software launch with a password seems a very good idea so that only you have access to the application.
The Bad
Besides the fact that Customize in Tools menu and Configure in Options menu are one and the same thing I could also mention that there is not a self lock option in the program. It would be useful when you leave the application open a little longer and you are away from your computer. People may change your password with no trouble, as when changing the launch password you are not required to enter the old password.
The Truth
I really liked the application as it delivered what it promised and personally, I think it is pretty good.
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
