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27 Replies Last post: Oct 13, 2008 4:01 PM by Flashorn 1 2 Previous Next

DebiB

10 posts since
Oct 4, 2007

Oct 10, 2008 5:09 PM

Deleting files

Has anyone used the program Prevent Restore to wipe out the files they previously deleted ? Any problems? I'm a "newbie" with interest in keeping my computer as "clean" as possible. Thanks for your imput.:8}

coastie65

9,163 posts since
Apr 2, 2007

1. Oct 10, 2008 7:03 PM

in response to: DebiB

Re: Deleting files

Hi Debi and welcome to the forum. I had never heard of it and obviously missed it in PCWorld last Month. I checked it out and the site actually had two free apps. I don't suppose it hurt as it just overwrites the sectors that have been deleted with a bunch of gibberish, making the information virtually unrecoverable. Sounds to me like you like to be thorough. Personally I have a super duper Undeleter as I'm prone to deleting stuff I probably shouldn't have

. I couldn't find anything pertaining to system specs so it may or may not run on your computer. coastie65

eMachines T5212.... Intel Pentium D 945 3.4Ghz..... evga 9800 GT 512 Mb PCI-E video card..... Realtec HD audio......2 Gb Crucial 667 Mhz DDR2 memory..... Lite on CD RW; DVD RW, DL,& Lightscribe optical drive...... Windows XP MCE 2005....... Antec Basiq 500w PSU......200 Gb Parallel ATA HDD.........Samsung 22" WS SyncMaster 2243BWX Monitor.

SpiritWind

1,722 posts since
Aug 19, 2006

2. Oct 10, 2008 7:14 PM

in response to: DebiB

Re: Deleting files

http://forums.pcworld.com/images/emoticons/grin.gif

Hi :

Never heard of "Prevent Restore", so I used Google to do a "Search" . From what I read it

allegedly "over-writes" "Deleted" Files . Since your computer does that automatically, you

do NOT need what appears to be a Scam program . You would be a lot better off using a

FREE program developed by antiSPYWARE Expert "ATribune" called "ATF Cleaner", which

is available at his website at http://www.atribune.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=25 .

For a Starting "List" of reliable, trustworthy programs, see what I wrote at

http://forums.pcworld.com/docs/DOC-1141 .

For the BEST in what COUNTS in LIFE : http://www.tacf.org

baseballboy64116

26 posts since
Sep 22, 2008

3. Oct 11, 2008 12:40 AM

in response to: DebiB

Re: Deleting files

What u need is this http://www.ccleaner.com/

Flashorn

2,608 posts since
May 19, 2007

4. Oct 11, 2008 2:41 AM

in response to: DebiB

Re: Deleting files

Hey Deb!!

Welcome to PCWorld Community!

If you would like to erase files that would not be recoverable

you can use DeleteOnClick from 2brightSparks. You can use

this software to permanently delete either one file or a batch of files.

Once deleted they are NOT recoverable so, be very careful what you delete.

Click on the blue link above to view this app. and others that this

company offers for free.

FLASHORN.

Free Internet Security - WOT Web of Trust

Patience is Life.

coastie65

9,163 posts since
Apr 2, 2007

5. Oct 11, 2008 7:14 AM

in response to: SpiritWind

Re: Deleting files

Hey spiritwind, I failed to mention that is what primarily happens when you delete a file anyway. Thanks for bringing that up. The thing was Free, so It probably couldn't be considered a scam, but just something to take up space on the HDD. coastie

smax013

6,494 posts since
Jan 28, 2007

6. Oct 11, 2008 5:35 PM

in response to: SpiritWind

Re: Deleting files

SpiritWind wrote:

Since your computer does that automatically, you

do NOT need what appears to be a Scam program .

Um...yes and no.

True to the extend that when you delete a file it is NOT really removed typically...but rather the "marker" to it is removed, which tells the system that spavce on the hard drive is free to be used again. If/when the system needs to use that space, it will then put new files in that location, thus overwritting the old file that was "deleted".

Not true in that unless you have something that does a "secure delete" or IMMEDIATELY use up all the space on the drive after deleting stuff, it might take a while for some thing that has been "deleted" to be overwritten in such a manner that it becomes difficult to recover (note: even stuff only overwritten once might be recovered...generally, DOD level wipe routinues, i.e. REALLY secure, will overwrite "deleted" data many, many times with random 1s and 0s).

Thus, the concept of the program is a valid concept. There are plenty of "secure" delete programs/ultilties out there are NOT "scam programs". Now, I cannot speak to whether or not this particular program is on the up and up or not as I have never used it or heard of it.

[soapbox] Backup = good...No backup = bad!! [/soap box]

DebiB

10 posts since
Oct 4, 2007

7. Oct 11, 2008 6:36 PM

in response to: smax013

Re: Deleting files

Thank you all for your input. Truly appreciated. Since I heard about this program on these boards I assumed, NEVER ASSUME, right, that it would be familiar to you. Maybe I'm being a little to paranoid about the situation but I guess it's better to ask those in the know, such as ALL you good people, then to not ask at all. Like I said, I'm a newbie to most of this. Since I just started paying bills, accessing secure sites, etc., I just wanted to know how to get rid of my footprints for good, so to speak. I always clear my cache, internet options clear files, clear cookies, etc. but I never feel that's quite good enough. Anyway A MILLION THANKS to EVERYONE for your input. I'm very glad to have found this board and know that there are good and helpful people left in the world. Thanks again.

DebiB

10 posts since
Oct 4, 2007

8. Oct 11, 2008 7:39 PM

in response to: baseballboy64116

Re: Deleting files

Thanks. I do use CCCleaner everytime BEFORE I log off for the night.

DebiB

10 posts since
Oct 4, 2007

9. Oct 11, 2008 7:57 PM

in response to: SpiritWind

Re: Deleting files

Thanks for the Starting List.-Doc 1141. I do have Avast and will use some of your suggestions.

DebiB

10 posts since
Oct 4, 2007

10. Oct 11, 2008 8:02 PM

in response to: Flashorn

Re: Deleting files

I have to admit this one scares me a little.Thanks for the help. Stay warm up there in Canada. P.S The Wings won tonight!!

Flashorn

2,608 posts since
May 19, 2007

11. Oct 11, 2008 10:10 PM

in response to: DebiB

Re: Deleting files

Hey Debi!!

You're welcomed!

Don't worry . This is a Right Click program. It installs in your Context menu.

I have been using and recommending this program for I'd say a couple of

years now. Everyone that uses this program really like it. If you are to Securely

Delete large folders, say 200 MB or more, it will take about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes

to delete because it uses DOD parameters to delete the files. But, yes, once they are

deleted no one can retrieve those files.If you are to click on the Securely Delete

option in your context menu, you will get a pop-up asking you if this is the action

you would like to take. So, you get a second chance to verify your decision.

This is what it looks like :

As you can see, it is clearly visible in the context menu so, you

shouldn't have any problems identifying it. Feel free to Google

the names in my context menu to get more info. on the programs

that i regularly use especialy the "Unlocker" program.

AND you didn't have to rub in the fact that Ottawa lost tonight. LOL!

If you have any other questions or concerns well, you know where

to find us.

FLASHORN.

Patience is Life.

smax013

6,494 posts since
Jan 28, 2007

12. Oct 12, 2008 1:49 AM

in response to: Flashorn

Re: Deleting files

Flashorn wrote:

But, yes, once they are deleted no one can retrieve those files.

I am honestly not complete sure if that is 100% accurate. I will certainly agree that they will be VERY, VERY difficult to retrieve and take a lot of effort (and money to do so), if they are retrieveable at all.

I will offer a caution...be VERY, VERY careful with secure delete type programs. Even ones that are not DOD complaint make it rather difficult to retrieve files. So, if you mistakenly securely delete something that you later realize you still needed, then be prepared to NOT get it back or at best potentiall spend a lot of time and/or money getting it back.

As a side note, securely deleting files is primarily a concern for if someone PHYSICALLY has acces to your computer...at least to the best of my knowledge. I don't believe "standard" deletion is much of a security concern for malware type infections (but I could wrong). Thus, I would suggest that it might not be something to worry about unless there are situations where someone has direct physical access to you computer (maybe if you have a laptop with secure, confidential information...but is that is the case, then that data should be keep encrypted anyway either on a seperate encrypted drive, encrypting the entire main drive, or at worst just in an encrypted "archive" on the unencrypted drive).

[soapbox] Backup = good...No backup = bad!! [/soap box]

Flashorn

2,608 posts since
May 19, 2007

13. Oct 12, 2008 2:50 AM

in response to: smax013

Re: Deleting files

Pretty early to be Picky smax!

FLASHORN.

Patience is Life.

coastie65

9,163 posts since
Apr 2, 2007

14. Oct 12, 2008 9:00 AM

in response to: DebiB

Re: Deleting files

Hey Debi, as lond as you have a good security app in there and doing what you are doing you should be fine. One thing, if you are banking , paying Bills, or shopping online or anything dealing with personal information you security apps should include some thing to prevent Keylogging as this is a primary way of getting your information. They will get it before it is encrypted and send it to whomever. the perp is. coastie

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