Author: Sam Miller
Security is a growing concern for a lot of people. The threat of identity theft is on the rise and any person can be affected. One common way that an identity thief gets hold of the data he needs is by accessing files or documents that are left lying around in the open especially those accessible from the World Wide Web.
You might say, I've deleted my files and no one can access them now, but the truth is you are wrong in that particular thinking. Not unless you can be certain that you have properly deleted your sensitive file or if you used a specialized program designed specifically for the task. Until then you cannot be sure that you have fully deleted your files and that they are now beyond trace.
This is where a file shredder program comes in. File shredder programs are specially designed to properly and fully delete files that you would not want anybody else to see. Most of the file shredder programs available for use follow guidelines set by the US government. This means that these programs delete your files to a certain degree making it virtually non existent.
We all have seen the movies where a whole company goes into panic because they are the subject of inquest by the IRS or any other government firms. In those scenes, paper shredders are a common fixture. We see shifty eyed employees feeding these machines batch by batch of company documents that are not for government eyes. The motive behind movie file shredding scenes is similar to the reason behind shredding computer files.
Let us just hope and believe that your reasons for shredding your computer files are much more personal rather than in an attempt to hide from the law. So, how does a file shredding program work? It is basically the same as a paper shredder, wherein it moves to make the files unreadable by cutting them up. After a file has been shredded, piecing it back up is theoretically doable, but is extremely - and we mean extremely difficult to do.
File shredder programs that are available for download can be found easily on the internet, some of these programs are free while others require purchase. In most cases, purchased programs work the best and have the least amount of glitches. However, this does not mean that free software does not work since there are always a few exceptions to the rule.
These are some of the file shredder software available for download:
Windows Washer - this file shredder allows you to shred files from Windows explorer and others. Windows Washer also has a 'Wash and Bleach' feature and the package is available for US $30.
Absolute Shield File Shredder 1.41 has a user rating of 4 out of 5. This product is said to function very well and that false malware reviews about it should be ignored.
East-Tec File Shredder is available for free downloads and has a rating of 5 out 5 from 100% of its users.
Max File Shredder - this program is also available in a free format. Simple File Shredder 3.2 is also a reliable file shredder and has received high ratings from its users.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/why-shred-files-and-what-are-good-file-shredder-downloads-286385.html
แสดงบทความที่มีป้ายกำกับ Wiping Hard Disk แสดงบทความทั้งหมด
แสดงบทความที่มีป้ายกำกับ Wiping Hard Disk แสดงบทความทั้งหมด
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 10 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2551
วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 7 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2551
How To Wipe Disk Drives, And Why
Author: Sam Miller
Data security has become a bigger concern as the information age goes into full swing. Computers are becoming more and more commonplace as versatile tools for a wide variety of tasks and uses. This has made digital storage increasingly the data storage format of choice, since digital information is easily accessed and processed by computers.
This has led to a rise in interest in digital information and data storage systems. Apart from developments in hardware technology that allow bigger capacity devices with faster access times, security has also become a prime consideration. Most software and programs nowadays come equipped with varying levels of security options. For instance, it is now possible to protect almost any file with a password such that only those who can provide the correct password would be able to access the information within the file.
However, these software security measures would not stand up to dedicated data extraction efforts, in particular those involving the actual physical hardware. Physically securing the hard drive (or other data storage device) under consideration may not always be possible or practical. Another way of ensuring that important data is not placed at risk is to wipe the disk.
Simply deleting the contents of a hard disk is not enough to ensure that they are not recovered. In fact, there are software utilities that allow the recovery of deleted data. This possibility is because when a file is deleted, it is not actually overwritten or removed from the hard disk. Instead, a marker is just associated with the file to say that it has been deleted, and the space it occupies on the disk is marked available for use. This means that the data in the file remains on the disk for the knowledgeable hacker to extract and view.
Wiping a disk, on the other hand, is a much more thorough process. In a disk wipe, all data to be wiped off is actually overwritten with random data. This eliminates almost entirely the traces that a normal deletion leaves behind, and makes recovery of data practically impossible. (In theory, it would still be possible to reconstruct the data lost after a hard disk wipe, but this would require high-powered microscopes and would proceed much too slowly to be useful!)
Performing a disk wipe is facilitated by the many disk wipe programs available. There are many free options, as well as commercial software options, which may differ in terms of functionality and documentation. The majority of these are available online, which makes it quite easy to browse through and find the most appropriate program for the specific task. Some programs are designed for use on a single personal computer, while others may be designed for use on batches of computers.
Confidential data that needs to be kept from being exposed may best be hidden by using a disk wipe. This simple additional security measure makes the recovery of deleted data nearly impossible. With the many disk wipe programs available, it is easier than ever to perform a disk wipe, even for casual users, making this a real data security option.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/how-to-wipe-disk-drives-and-why-277552.html
Data security has become a bigger concern as the information age goes into full swing. Computers are becoming more and more commonplace as versatile tools for a wide variety of tasks and uses. This has made digital storage increasingly the data storage format of choice, since digital information is easily accessed and processed by computers.
This has led to a rise in interest in digital information and data storage systems. Apart from developments in hardware technology that allow bigger capacity devices with faster access times, security has also become a prime consideration. Most software and programs nowadays come equipped with varying levels of security options. For instance, it is now possible to protect almost any file with a password such that only those who can provide the correct password would be able to access the information within the file.
However, these software security measures would not stand up to dedicated data extraction efforts, in particular those involving the actual physical hardware. Physically securing the hard drive (or other data storage device) under consideration may not always be possible or practical. Another way of ensuring that important data is not placed at risk is to wipe the disk.
Simply deleting the contents of a hard disk is not enough to ensure that they are not recovered. In fact, there are software utilities that allow the recovery of deleted data. This possibility is because when a file is deleted, it is not actually overwritten or removed from the hard disk. Instead, a marker is just associated with the file to say that it has been deleted, and the space it occupies on the disk is marked available for use. This means that the data in the file remains on the disk for the knowledgeable hacker to extract and view.
Wiping a disk, on the other hand, is a much more thorough process. In a disk wipe, all data to be wiped off is actually overwritten with random data. This eliminates almost entirely the traces that a normal deletion leaves behind, and makes recovery of data practically impossible. (In theory, it would still be possible to reconstruct the data lost after a hard disk wipe, but this would require high-powered microscopes and would proceed much too slowly to be useful!)
Performing a disk wipe is facilitated by the many disk wipe programs available. There are many free options, as well as commercial software options, which may differ in terms of functionality and documentation. The majority of these are available online, which makes it quite easy to browse through and find the most appropriate program for the specific task. Some programs are designed for use on a single personal computer, while others may be designed for use on batches of computers.
Confidential data that needs to be kept from being exposed may best be hidden by using a disk wipe. This simple additional security measure makes the recovery of deleted data nearly impossible. With the many disk wipe programs available, it is easier than ever to perform a disk wipe, even for casual users, making this a real data security option.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/how-to-wipe-disk-drives-and-why-277552.html
Why Wipe Free Disk Space?
Author: Sam Miller
Computers have found very many applications in today's world, in almost every field of human activity. Offices, schools, libraries, and other organizations that need to keep track of and organize huge masses of information have found that computers perform this task admirably. Scientists and engineers have been able to leverage the massive computing power now available to help solve problems once thought unsolvable, and to develop new technologies through simulation. Writers, visual artists, and even musical composers have also found that computers can provide new and exciting ways for them to practice their respective crafts.
Because of this, it has also become quite important to look at the different ways of storing digital data. Digital data here refers to that information stored in methods that make it accessible to computers, such as on hard disks or compact discs (CD's). Apart from increasing the amount of data that could be stored on a particular digital storage device, discussions of data security have also arisen.
Computers have been made to handle confidential information, which is meant to be protected from unauthorized access. Password protection is now an option with most programs that work with digital files, and so is of course keeping the computers in question physically secure. Sometimes, however, it may become necessary to delete certain files in such a manner as to leave no traces on the medium.
This is where the disk wiping or file shredding operation comes in. These processes are distinguished from ordinary deletion by the fact that they are more permanent. The data disposed of using either of these two processes are much more difficult to recover than data merely deleted. This is so because when a file is deleted, it is actually not removed from the hard disk. Instead, what happens is just that it is marked "deleted", and the space it occupies on the disk surface is marked "available".
In other words, the file information remains on the hard disk, available for curious eyes to recover and view. In the file shredding operation, the area on the hard disk where the file is stored is actually overwritten with random data. This helps to mask any traces that the file has left on the hard disk, and makes recovering the shredded file's information virtually impossible.
A disk wipe is simply the same operation, but performed over the entire area of the hard disk, to more or less permanently delete all data on the disk.
Some programs have the function of wiping free disk space. This may seem useless, at first encounter, but it actually does have its own uses. Some programs such as word processors or spreadsheets may create temporary files that hold information. Also, previously deleted files that have not yet been wiped are still on the disk, available for recovery. By wiping the free disk space, these temporary files are removed, and the previously deleted files become gone for good. Wiping free disk space would be a useful habit to form, to help guard against the unintentional recovery of deleted data, thought lost.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/why-wipe-free-disk-space-277517.html
Computers have found very many applications in today's world, in almost every field of human activity. Offices, schools, libraries, and other organizations that need to keep track of and organize huge masses of information have found that computers perform this task admirably. Scientists and engineers have been able to leverage the massive computing power now available to help solve problems once thought unsolvable, and to develop new technologies through simulation. Writers, visual artists, and even musical composers have also found that computers can provide new and exciting ways for them to practice their respective crafts.
Because of this, it has also become quite important to look at the different ways of storing digital data. Digital data here refers to that information stored in methods that make it accessible to computers, such as on hard disks or compact discs (CD's). Apart from increasing the amount of data that could be stored on a particular digital storage device, discussions of data security have also arisen.
Computers have been made to handle confidential information, which is meant to be protected from unauthorized access. Password protection is now an option with most programs that work with digital files, and so is of course keeping the computers in question physically secure. Sometimes, however, it may become necessary to delete certain files in such a manner as to leave no traces on the medium.
This is where the disk wiping or file shredding operation comes in. These processes are distinguished from ordinary deletion by the fact that they are more permanent. The data disposed of using either of these two processes are much more difficult to recover than data merely deleted. This is so because when a file is deleted, it is actually not removed from the hard disk. Instead, what happens is just that it is marked "deleted", and the space it occupies on the disk surface is marked "available".
In other words, the file information remains on the hard disk, available for curious eyes to recover and view. In the file shredding operation, the area on the hard disk where the file is stored is actually overwritten with random data. This helps to mask any traces that the file has left on the hard disk, and makes recovering the shredded file's information virtually impossible.
A disk wipe is simply the same operation, but performed over the entire area of the hard disk, to more or less permanently delete all data on the disk.
Some programs have the function of wiping free disk space. This may seem useless, at first encounter, but it actually does have its own uses. Some programs such as word processors or spreadsheets may create temporary files that hold information. Also, previously deleted files that have not yet been wiped are still on the disk, available for recovery. By wiping the free disk space, these temporary files are removed, and the previously deleted files become gone for good. Wiping free disk space would be a useful habit to form, to help guard against the unintentional recovery of deleted data, thought lost.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/why-wipe-free-disk-space-277517.html
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