Secure Delete Files in Windows

Selecting the Empty Recycle Bin option on the Recycle Bin in Windows does not securely delete your files. If you do not securely delete your files then someone may be able to undelete your files and read your sensitive files. Category-1 data should always be securely deleted off computers.

Windows does not ship with the ability to securely delete files so you need to install 3rd-party software that can do this. A good free program to securely delete files in Windows is Eraser. You can download Eraser from its homepage at http://eraser.heidi.ie

NOTE: The instructions below assume you have already downloaded and installed the Eraser program on your computer.

1.) First drag the files you want to secure delete into the Recycle Bin like you normally do. Then right-click over the Recycle Bin and choose the secure delete option Erase Recycle Bin (7-Pass DoD).

• You will observe many new menu options when you right-click on the Recycle Bin after installing the Eraser program. All of these options are different techniques of securely deleting your data. "Erase Recycle Bin (7-Pass DoD)" is the option you should choose for Category-1 data. If you notice, the standard non-secure way of emptying the Recycle Bin is still available by selecting the "Empty Recycle Bin" option.

2.) Click Yes in the confirmation dialog box that appears.

3.) A window with a progress meter will appear displaying the progress of the secure delete operation. Depending on how many files were in your Recycle Bin, it may take a few minutes for the operation to complete.

4.) After the secure delete operation completes, you will be presented with a report of the secure delete operation. Click the Close button to close this window.

5.) The items in your Recycle Bin have now been securely deleted.