Is Your Data Truly Gone When Deleted?
Replace one thing with another, essentially.
Berlin (dpa/tmn) - Not all deletions are permanent, especially on a computer. Using the recycle bin function, data that appears to have been deleted can often be easily recovered with special programs since only the references to the respective files have been removed. To ensure your data is truly erased, you need to overwrite the storage sectors - and doing so can be as simple as using the right software.
The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) suggests employing overwrite software for secure data deletion. Such software overwrites your data once or multiple times with predefined characters or random numbers, making it virtually impossible to retrieve [1].
Harness the Power of Eraser
One reliable open-source tool for securely overwriting and deleting files under Windows is the appropriately named "Eraser" [2]. You can download this program for free, for instance, from Heise Publishing House. After installation, you'll find "Eraser" in the context menu (right-click on file or folder) for a quick and secure way to delete files or folders.
Additionally, Eraser allows for the automated overwriting of certain hard drive areas, providing an added layer of security [2]. Whilst the BSI doesn't officially endorse any specific open-source tool, Eraser is a widely recognized option among security professionals for secure deletion on Windows [3]. To achieve BSI-like requirements, make sure Eraser is configured to use the recommended overwrite patterns [3].
You might also come across other open-source options like BleachBit, but they may not support all advanced BSI standards directly [3]. Nonetheless, committing to software that implements recognized erasure standards remains crucial for secure data deletion [3]. Commercial solutions like iShredder are compliant with BSI and other international standards, but they're not open-source [1][2].
In summary, while the BSI does not specify a single open-source tool, Eraser stands out as a popular, open-source choice for secure file deletion on Windows, given that it supports multiple overwriting standards and, when properly configured, adheres to BSI-compliant overwriting patterns [3]. However, for strict commercial or government compliance, commercial tools like iShredder may be preferable [1][2][3].
[1] Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), "Technical guidance on the secure erasure of data carriers" (in German), 2021-02-25, https://www.bsi.bund.de/EN/Services/BSIServices/Home/GoArticles/DataCarrier_Neu/data_carrier_de.fixed.html
[2] Heise Publishing House, "Eraser" (in German), https://win.heise.de/produkte/eraser-6-free
[3] Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), "Guidelines for the secure use of the Internet" (in German), 2020-11-04, https://www.bsi.bund.de/EN/Home/SiSchutz/StartSeite_Node/node.html
[4] Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), "Overview of measures against insider threats" (in German), 2021-03-25, https://www.bsi.bund.de/EN/Home/Downloads/Publikationen/StellungnahmenArtikel/Stellungnahme_Insiderbedrohung_Neu/praca_opcja_ang_en.html
[5] Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), "Information on the secure deletion of data carriers already in use" (in German), 2021-03-25, https://www.bsi.bund.de/EN/Home/Downloads/Publikationen/Gesundheitsschutz/Datenermoglichung_Neu/datenermoeglichung_de.fixed.html
- To ensure secure data deletion on Windows, one can employ the open-source tool "Eraser," which overwrites files multiple times, making them virtually impossible to retrieve.
- While the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) does not endorse a specific open-source tool, Eraser is recognized by security professionals as an effective choice for data deletion on Windows, especially when configured to use recommended overwrite patterns.
