What software would you recommend to completely delete information from a disk?

Question

Hard disks

Interested in the following functionality for the complete removal of information without the possibility of recovery:

1. deleting files placed in the trash;
   
2. deleting a specific file/files/folder;
   
3. "overwriting" just free space on an arbitrary disk in case there is some data left that has not been erased before (a used disk or flash drive, for example).
   

Previously, I used the File shredder utility from IObit Advanced SystemCare and it performed the first two points. Now again there is a need to delete information and suddenly there is a more convenient or simply better software for these purposes. In particular, now it is required to wipe free disk space from traces of past data before moving it to another working computer.
Also, which of the methods would you recommend, with what number of passes - DoD5220.22-M (ECE) (7 passes), Gutman (35 passes), overwriting with zeros (1 pass), etc. - just for secure erasing without the possibility of recovery. I understand that the more passes, the better, but it all takes time and, according to the experience of others, there may be some reasonable maximum. I know how to google, but I want to hear an opinion based on experience of use.
And at the same time, the question is: what software can be conveniently used to see if there is something left on the disk that has not been deleted?

Answer 1

What software would you recommend to completely delete information from a disk?

It makes no sense to use any special software, it is much more efficient to do it manually.
Even with software - you don't know exactly what it does, maybe it doesn't delete anything.
In 99% of cases it is enough -
1) Delete all information from the file system - Shift + Del or format the disk.
2) After that, write to the disk information equal in volume to the capacity of the disk - to score the disk to the eyeballs, for example, with a copy of the film.
Theoretically, after that, the information can only remain in reserve - it is almost impossible to pull it out of there.
But if you need a 100% guarantee - repeat steps 1 and 2 again.
Then all information is 100% deleted.
This is true for both SSD and HDD, although for HDD the second pass will be redundant.

DoD5220.22-M(ECE) (7 passes), Gutmann (35 passes)

All these methods made sense for top-secret information fifteen, twenty years ago and earlier, but then when huge disks began to appear - 20-40 gigabytes each - all this already began to lose relevance, and is used only by inertia.

Answer 2

Mark Russinovich has taken care of it for a long time: SDelete .

Answer 3

What software would you recommend to completely delete information from a disk?

Self-written :)
No, I'm not kidding. Are you really ready to trust no one knows what program to delete files? Good, if she simply "forgets to delete" them. And then she can knock where she should. In our paranoid time, when bugs can be found in TVs, children's toys and even in vibrators (sic!) - it doesn't seem like nonsense anymore :)
The hard disk controller is now a small computer, which is not at all a fact that it will do exactly what is said to it :) He can "up" give everything to OB, but in fact ...
The simplest, and completely free way is to stupidly overwrite the same flash drive with something free and large - for example, a Linux distribution. Or a film from a pipe. Until the system starts issuing the "file system is full" diagnostic

Answer 4

The answer to the question depends on the type of physical device in question. I'm assuming it's the hard drive. Then:
If the guaranteed destruction of data in user space is enough, it is enough to format and score to the eyeballs with anything. Second passes, zeros, gutmans - all this is nonsense. Score with anything, most importantly to the eyeballs, no one will restore. I approve as a data recovery specialist.
The problem may be elsewhere. In addition to sectors available to the user, there are sectors that are decommissioned due to, for example, unstable reading. They are replaced by the backup ones with the help of the corresponding function of the translation algorithm. And from them, you will not remove what is left in them without special knowledge and tools, for example, PC-3000. And there is still quite a lot will depend on the specific model of the disk.
Therefore, if the data is ultra-sensitive and it is required that nothing survive in any sector, the easiest way, for a single disk, is to physically destroy it.

Answer 5

Victoria + Secure erase => google/yandex/bing

Answer 6

"What software can be conveniently used to see if there is something left on the disk that has not been deleted?"
R-studio is the only software that once helped me a lot to recover important files

Answer 7

I personally checked how O&O erases - I could not restore anything with the Recuva utility