Permanently Deleting Files

[max105]

I've just accepted a new job offer and will be at my current workplace for another week or so. Over the years, I've installed some games, IM clients with logs of personal conversations, receipts of purchases I've made from the work computer, etc.

Before leaving, I plan on purging my entire machine of all personal information and leaving it as bare as it was when I first received the computer. I can't reformat the drive without attracting suspicion and questions. Are there any tools that will permanently search out unused bits and clear them all? Basically, is there a low-level bit cleaning tool?

 

[bruceb]

Spybot SD can do that ... you can get it here:

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

Also, since it is a work computer, you probably have an IT
dept or tech .. in alot of companies when someone leaves,
they simply reimage the computer with the latest image that
the company is using .. it is easier to do it that way, plus
they can then make the computer more secure for the next
user (meaning you can change less or not install stuff)

 

[cleverhandle]

Delete everything you can out of your Documents and Settings directory while still allowing you to log in. Find a big file (like a DVD ISO or something), and make copies of it until you run out of space. Not perfect, but it should be good enough unless you have some seriously juicy stuff on there.

 

[max105]

Originally posted by: cleverhandle
Delete everything you can out of your Documents and Settings directory while still allowing you to log in. Find a big file (like a DVD ISO or something), and make copies of it until you run out of space. Not perfect, but it should be good enough unless you have some seriously juicy stuff on there.

This is pretty much what I've planned on doing so far. I was just hoping there was a cool tool out there that would automate this process for me.

 

[biggestmuff]

BCWipe 3.0

delete all files then run the DoD (seven-pass wiping) or the Peter Gutmann scheme (35-passes wiping) overnight...or until finished!

 

[kevinthenerd]

NTFS? If not, use a Knoppix disc and "wipe" it.
http://wipe.sourceforge.net/

If so, I wonder whether it would compile under cygwin.

 

[max105]

For some reason, BCWipe can't detect any of my local drives so I can't select anything for it to wipe/clean. But I did find SDelete which seems to be working.

 

[Auric]

Eraser is good.

 

[dBTelos]

Originally posted by: Auric
Eraser is good.

I agree.

 

[alent1234]

how do you know they don't do backups of your PC? some companies do

 

[kamper]

If you put personal files on a machine that you don't have permission to wipe properly then I'd say you probably deserve whatever's coming to you if they find it If you simply delete the files, are you really worried that they'll attempt a recovery on it? I mean, I always delete everything when I leave but there's something wrong if you're that worried. And if they do try a recovery, a bunch of copies of a large file are going to look just as suspicious as a wiped drive.

Incidentally, I once got burned by deleting too much stuff. There was a file I'd spent maybe half a day on (and it would've taken anyone else a fair bit longer) that I was sure had been properly distributed (it was source, I didn't have proper access to the repository) but apparently got lost. They went looking for the copy on my machine but I'd deleted it and somebody had to waste a bunch of time redoing it (improperly too, I assume). So be careful with company property

 

[SultanEmerr]

AnalogX SuperShredder = http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/system/shred.htm

 

[sswingle]

Originally posted by: bruceb
Spybot SD can do that ... you can get it here:

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

Also, since it is a work computer, you probably have an IT
dept or tech .. in alot of companies when someone leaves,
they simply reimage the computer with the latest image that
the company is using .. it is easier to do it that way, plus
they can then make the computer more secure for the next
user (meaning you can change less or not install stuff)

It does? Never knew that...I thought it just got rid of cookies/spyware.

 

[EagleKeeper]

The below may apply in some locations:

The IT department will usually do an image of the existing system (or at least general file/My Doc areas) in case there is information that may later on need to be recovered. Then they re-image the disk to the pristeen state that they need for the next person to use the system.

Best bet is to contact the IT department on what the policy is.

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by: dBTelos

Originally posted by: Auric
Eraser is good.

I agree.

Same.

Just got done using it too

 

[pushVTEC]

I use eraser, good and free.

 

[SultanEmerr]

Originally posted by: Smilin

Originally posted by: dBTelos

Originally posted by: Auric
Eraser is good.

I agree.

Same.

Just got done using it too

Does Eraser auto make a folder(that's hard to find) of everything you erase, in case you erased something by mistake?

 

[dBTelos]

Does Eraser auto make a folder(that's hard to find) of everything you erase, in case you erased something by mistake?

I don't think they have an option for that. But the ultimate idea of the program is to delete everything with no regret. They have a confirmation message also.

BTW, sultan. Did you get banned from G4? If so was it a permaban?