WipeData

Thanks to recovery tools, deleted data can be recovered, but this can also work against you. Anyone can use a recovery software to see what files you are working on. If you don't want anyone to find out your secrets, the data must be shredded. WipeData will ensure that erased data will stay erased. It is a simple wizard which will delete and overwrite files, multiple times, making them unrecoverable.

You can get the software for free by downloading a 352 Kb archive. It contains the setup file which will start a speedy installation process. WipeData can be used on any Windows version, later than Win 98. Running it on Win 98 will require an installation of MS Visual Basic 6.0 Runtime Files.

WipeData is built as a wizard. During its steps, you can choose a normal wiping method, which will rewrite all the bytes within a file and delete it. The second method will rewrite the bytes with 1, 0 and a certain character before deleting it. If you choose this method, you can choose how many times you want to rewrite the bytes and what character to use.

The remaining steps involve adding files to a list and confirming the erasing process by typing "OK" in a small dialog box. In a few seconds, the files will be deleted and recovering them will be impossible, no matter what tool you may use.