[How To] securely delete files so that file recovery programs can’t recover them

Revisions:

First Release 1.00 @ 8-7-2009

First Revision 1.10 @ 8-7-2009

• Added links to mentioned programs.
• Added screenshots.
• Corrected First Release date from 7-7-09 to 8-7-09

Yesterday, I demonstrated on how to recover deleted files using Recuva, and wrote a review of that program. If it is so that file recovery programs can find and recover previously deleted files, this may seriously invade our privacy, so there is a way to make these files unrecoverable by writing random new data on the old disk space occupied by deleted files. This method uses Revo Uninstaller, which comes with quite a few additional functions, e.g. startup manager and disk cleaner, which are also managed by CCleaner.

Back to the topic. First, run Revo Uninstaller the usual way. On the top of the UI, next to the “Uninstaller” button, there is a tools option. Click on that, and a screen providing the additional functions of CCleaner is shown. There are two parts, Optimization and Tracks Cleaner. The default is Optimization, so select Tracks Cleaner by clicking it’s button.

On the left side, select “Unrecoverable Delete”. On the two boxes shown, add files and/or folders to be permanently deleted. After files are added, click “delete forever”. The process has been done, and even Recuva cannot recover that file now. Easy!