Eraser Recommended File Shredding Tool Guideline

What is Eraser?
Eraser is file shredding tool that allows you to completely remove data from your system by overwriting it
several times, thus sanitizing (sometimes referred to as shredding) the data and making it unrecoverable.
Why use Eraser?
To ensure confidentiality, it is a good idea to use a file shredder to permanently remove data from your system.
Similar to shredding a paper document, when you shred a file on your system, it cannot be recovered.
ormally, when deleting a file from your system, the space that the data occupies is simply marked as available
for the system to use. The file itself is removed from the directory list, but the actual data is still on the physical
disk. Eventually, during normal use, this space will be overwritten, but in the meantime it can still be recovered
using special utilities and forensic tools.
How does it work?
!ile shredding works by overwriting this space with random data. !or sensitive information, it is recommended
this data be overwritten several times. The "epartment of "efense standard ("#" $%&.%%) is three times.
How do I install Eraser?
'un the download file. The default options are fine, so click (e)t* until the setup is complete.
How do I use Eraser?
The easiest way to use Eraser is to find the file you wish to delete in +indows E)plorer. 'ight,click the file, then
click the (erase*. -lick (yes* to confirm. The file is now securely shredded and CANNOT BE RECOVERED.
.fterwards, it will show a summary dialog bo).
What else can Eraser do?
The main Eraser program can be found by clicking Start ,/ .ll 0rograms ,/ Eraser ,/ Eraser. There are several
options, including scrubbing the free space on your drive to ensure that old deleted files are securely deleted. 1t
can run scheduled erasure of particular data at regular intervals. There is also an #n,"emand option in which you
can drag and drop files into Eraser, then erase them all at once as a task item.
Can I remoe Eraser when I!m done?
#f course, Eraser can be removed if you no longer have a need for it. The files that were securely shredded will
still be gone.
When I erase a "ile# is it really gone?
2es, when you use Eraser to securely delete a file, it truly is gone from the physical media. 3nless there are
copies left in other places (email, 3S4 drives, -"), when using Eraser, the file is unrecoverable.
Can I get it $ack i" I erased it $y mistake?
o, once you securely delete a file using Eraser, it is gone and cannot be recovered. 3nless of course there is a
copy of the file somewhere else.
What i" I need hel%?
1n the Eraser application itself, after going to Start ,/ .ll 0rograms ,/ Eraser ,/ Eraser, there is a 5elp menu item
if you re6uire further assistance.
What are the other erasing methods?
There are three basic methods or theories of securely wiping data.
, The 7utmann method is based on 0eter 7utmann8s paper (Secure "eletion of "ata from 9agnetic and Solid,
State 9emory*. 5e uses %: different pattern passes used in random order to overwrite the data. Eraser also uses
four passes of its own random data (generated using a secure formula) before and after, making a total of ;$
passes<
, The 0seudorandom "ata method uses an algorithm called the 1S..- to generate cryptographically strong
pseudorandom data which is then used to overwrite the data. The number of passes can be user defined but the
default is =.
What is the $est method to use "or data wi%ing?
That depends on the data being erased. The most secure is the 7utmann method, but this is also the slowest
method. !or everyday use, the default pseudorandom method is fast and should be >ust fine. #TE? !or very
sensitive information the 7utmann method would be preferable.