Secure Destruction
Deleting files on your computer sends them to the recycle bin. Eventually you delete them and they're gone. The information's been removed from your computer, right?. Well, not really. That information has simply been moved around to a part of your computer where you don't see it. If needed, you or someone else can recover those files. Someone with malicious intentions could also recover the files. When deleting information that isn't very important, say an old shortcut from your desktop, regular deletion is enough. However, when handling sensitive information, files need to be securely deleted. What follows are technical instructions on how to securely delete files. This is not an official University policy. If you have questions about what sensitive information you should have or about secure deletion policy, please contact your Frontline Support Provider.
Recovering Deleted Files
There are many tools available for recovering files which have been deleted from your computer. If you securely deleted the files, you will not be able to recover them. One tool which you can download is Recuva. Once you have downloaded the application, you can use it to search your computer for files you have already deleted.
Download Recuva from the link provided. When prompted with the screen below, click yes.
Once the download is complete, open the Recuva desktop icon. You will see a screen that looks like this:
Follow the wizard instructions. You will be asked where in your computer Recuva should search. Either tell it to search the whole computer or choose a specific location.
The program will search for deleted files and will give you a results list of all the files it finds. From there, you can choose the files you would like to recover.
Shredding in Identity Finder
IdentityFinder for individual computers can be used to securely destroy files. This tool can search your whole computer for files which contain secure information, like social security numbers and credit card records. It can also be used to delete individual files containing secure information. In this example, we will securely delete one file. Visit the IdentityFinder FAQ for more help with running scans of your whole computer. If you have IdentityFinder installed on your computer, open the program and log in.
Click on "Tools" on the horizontal menu bar and then click on File Shredder.
The File Shredder will open the window shown below. Click on the ellipse to search for files.
Next click "Users" then your name, then the area you want to look in. In this example, we are searching in "My Documents" in the "Secure Information" folder. When you have found the file you want to shred, click it then click OK.
You will be returned to the File Shredder page like this:
If you are sure that you have found the file you want to securely destroy, click "Shred." You will be prompted with this window:
Click "Yes" and your files will be shredded. The final window will alert you that your shredding has been successful.
Don't forget to log out of IdentityFinder before closing the window.
Secure Deletion for Windows
Windows does not have a built-in secure destruction tool, but there are many applications which can be downloaded for this purpose. One of these tools is Eraser. To download Eraser, click "downloads," then choose the version listed under "Stable Versions"
Once the download has completed, open the desktop shortcut. You will see this screen:
Click the small triangle next to Eraser Schedule. Then select New Task. In the window that opens, select Run Immediately and then click Select Data.
This will open a browsing window. For "Erasure Method," choose "Pseudorandom Data (1 Pass)." Under "File" click "Browse" and find the file you want to securely delete In this example, we will delete "Secure Information" from "My Documents."
Click OK to add the file to the Data Set. When you press "OK," the file will be deleted. At this point, you will not be able to recover the file, so make sure that you have selected the correct file before pressing OK.
Secure Deletion for Macs
Macs have a built-in secure destruction tool. To securely delete files, put them in the Trash.
Then click on Finder. Choose secure empty trash.
