| When you delete a file from your
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| | to be deleted with random data. What this
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| computer, it may seem permanent and
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| | means is that no recognizable traces of
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| irreversible enough, but in fact it
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| | the shredded file remains on the hard
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| isn't. It is still possible to recover
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| | disk after deletion.
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| this data through a variety of means,
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| | This can be better understood by
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| using software designed for this purpose.
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| | realizing that the data contained within
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| This may be helpful for accidental
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| | any type of file can be reduced,
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| deletions, but when private or
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| | fundamentally, to some series of 1's and
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| confidential data is involved, this
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| | 0's that then form bits and bytes.
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| represents security vulnerability.
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| | Ordinary file deletion leaves the
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| File deletion works by just changing the
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| | majority of this sequence of bits
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| tag on a particular file to the value
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| | unchanged, changing only the small
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| 'deleted', and making it inaccessible
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| | portion of it corresponding to the
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| from the default set of menus and
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| | "deleted" or "available" metatag. File
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| directories. However, the data and the
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| | shredders, on the other hand, overwrite
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| file itself actually remain on the hard
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| | these bits with random bits, effectively
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| disk, and only disappear when it is
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| | masking the old pattern that was
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| overwritten in the future by new data.
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| | contained in the shredded file.
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| But this overwriting may not happen until
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| | Because nearly all traces of the original
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| after the file data has already been
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| | data are wiped clean, it becomes next to
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| recovered!
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| | impossible to retrieve any useful
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| In fact, some operating systems have a
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| | information from files shredded in this
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| built-in UNDELETE command, which can
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| | manner. Many file shredders perform this
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| easily recover recently deleted files.
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| | random overwriting process several times
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| Hence, this really is a big vulnerability
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| | to ensure that the resultant pattern is
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| that can be exploited by malicious
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| | truly random, and is no longer correlated
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| parties to gain access to confidential or
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| | with the old data.
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| private information.
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| | These file shredders can sometimes also
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| An analogous problem arises in disposing
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| | deal with entire hard disks at once. This
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| of confidential paperwork, and the
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| | is useful when disposing of or
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| typical solution is to use so called
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| | transferring old computers, for instance,
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| paper shredders. These shredders tear the
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| | to ensure that no recoverable data
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| paper into fine strips which are then
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| | remains on the hard disk. These hard disk
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| nearly impossible to reconstruct the
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| | wipes work on the same basic principle as
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| original from. The solution to the
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| | shredding an individual file: all of the
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| digital counterpart of the problem lies
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| | data on the hard disk is overwritten with
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| in software, also called shredders.
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| | random bits.
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| These utilities are known as file
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| | Many file shredders (super shredder, for
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| shredders (examples include Super
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| | instance, but there are others) are
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| Shredder, among others), and are designed
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| | available for download or purchase on the
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| to permanently delete any particular file
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| | internet. This means that secure deletion
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| or group of files. This is done by
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| | is easier than ever to perform.
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| overwriting the actual data in the file
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