Alternate File Shredder

If you don't want anyone to see a document which you don't need anymore, simply deleting the file won't be enough to prevent tech-savvy users from getting their hands on it. This is where applications like Alternate File Shredder come in to help you make sure your files will stay deleted when they outlive their usefulness. When you delete something with this utility, the physical data on the disk will be wiped out, making it impossible for any other application to recover the information.

You can have Alternate File Shredder up and running in no time. It works on all modern Windows platforms, its setup package is small, and the installation process is straightforward and easy. You don't need a powerful computer to run it, and you don't have to meet any special requirements.

Shredding one or more files is quite easy. You can import individual files or entire folders on the software's compact user interface, after which you only need to click a button to destroy the data. Additionally, you can make a few tweaks, on the same window, beneath the files list. The software can be set to pass over the physical data, delete it and overwrite it once or up to one hundred times. You can also set it to shred filenames and to change file sizes to zero or a random value.

Normally, when you delete a file, the operating system only marks the corresponding spot on the disk as free. However, Alternate File Shredder actually erases the data and overwrites it once or multiple times, to make sure no other utilities can recover the information. What's more, the software is not limited to shredding files. It can also wipe all the free space on your disk. It may take some time to complete the process, but you will be certain that none of your sensitive documents will be recovered if someone uses a recovery application. Also, you may want to hold on to this option for when you get a new hard drive and need to scrub the old one.

Alternate File Shredder is the equivalent of a real-life paper shredder, but with hundreds of blades and a built-in flamethrower.