Freeware Tools: Alternate File Shredder 1.62

Alternate File Shredder is a simple-to-use and effective software application that permits you to permanently eliminate files from the computer, in order to prevent other users from recovering it with specialized tools. It features some advanced settings that can be easily tinkered with. After a brief and uneventful setup procedure, you are welcomed by a regular frame with a clear-cut structure, representing Alternate File Shredder's interface. It is possible to add files and folders to the task list by dropping them into the main frame while navigating disk locations.

Did you know that deleting files and emptying the recycle bin are not enough to erase traces of the files from a computer? With a proper data recovery tool, some can easily retrieve the deleted data.

There are also instances where you may not be able to delete some files and folders due to Windows restrictions. However, you can delete such stubborn files and remove their traces using Alternate File Shredder.

When you delete data from your computer, the operating system simply makes it possible to write other data on the same places holding the deleted data. If nothing has been written on the places, the deleted data can still be retrieved.

Alternate File Shredder solves this problem by overwriting these places with random data to render the files useless even if someone tries to recover the data.

Before proceeding with the shredding operation, Alternate File Shredder can be asked to overwrite the data with random information and shred file names to make it even harder for other users to attempt and retrieve the files.

Ignore write protection (whenever available), and disable deletion confirmations. You can also pick the number of iterations and wipe free space to prevent the retrieval or already deleted items.

There are buttons for adding either individual files or entire folders and check boxes for choosing to shred filenames, confirm delete, write random data, ignore write protection and change file sizes either randomly or to zero.

All in all, Alternate File Shredder comes packed with powerful and easy-to-use options for securely deleting files and folders.