Did You Really Delete Files? Not Necessarily!

Most people are unaware that when they delete files by sending them to the recycle bin, they're not actually deleting them entirely. Thus, files that need to be secure (like those that contain credit card numbers), or files that were for personal use can be easily accessed by anyone with a small amount of computer savvy. Read on to find out how to delete files permanently, and protect your sensitive materials!

A common misconception and one I know I had, is that when you tell Microsoft Windows to delete files, those files are completely gone once you empty your recycle bin. How wrong I was! When you delete files, the data is never physically removed from your hard drive at all. In fact, only the tiny bit of information that comprises the pointer to the file is deleted. These pointers are located near the beginning of the hard drive, and are what allow your computer to create a directory system. When you delete these pointers, you're simply letting Windows know that the space on your hard drive containing the file can, at some point, be overwritten.

The problem with this is twofold. First, when you attempt to delete files, they still temporarily exist on your computer, using up valuable hard drive space. Secondly, the file becomes hidden ? just well enough that you may not notice it, but not so well hidden that it can't be accessed. Additionally, some types of files (like files created in Microsoft Word) create temporary back-ups that allow you to recover information if your computer crashes before you've saved. These back-ups also sit on your hard drive, waiting to be overwritten. All of these useless files slow down search and utility functions, because they cause the computer to work harder.

Basically, your computer becomes like a library without an effective catalog. It's difficult for a librarian to find a book (even with a clear location) amidst stacks of random materials. The same holds true for your computer. As non-removable media gets larger and larger, this problem will simply get worse, because it will take more time for the hard drive to need to overwrite deleted files for space.

Have you ever considered selling your computer? Imagine for an instant, all of the forms you've filled out in programs like Adobe Acrobat that contain your vital information ? credit card numbers, addresses, health status, etc. What about personal letters you've written? I know I've created some late night poetry that I never want to see the light of day! I'm simply boggled imagining all the deleted files sitting on my 40 gig hard drive that would be readily accessible to anyone who really wanted to look. Did you know that even reformatting your drives doesn't necessarily delete files, either? With the increase of identity theft, it's terrifying to think of what a crook could do with one old PC!

There are several solutions the problem that occurs when you delete files. You could carefully funnel through your entire computer trying to figure out which files are which, and permanently removing them yourself. As stated earlier, hard drives are massive, making this a truly Herculean task.

An easier option is simply to purchase software to delete files for you, and to help you not make mistakes. Privacy Guardian actually bleaches your hard drive after you delete files using a technique that meets Department of Defense standards. This makes your files unrecoverable using normal methods! Clean up your hard drive, protect your privacy; get rid of these "deleted" files once and for all! Your system will thank you for it and you'll be happy with a boost in performance!

PC Tools Links

• Privacy Guardian

  Powerful privacy software to erase online Internet tracks and program activity.

  Privacy Guardian is a safe and easy-to-use privacy protection tool that securely deletes online Internet tracks and program activity records that are stored in your browser and other hidden files on your computer.

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