How to secure delete file or folder in windows?

As an IT administrator, it is important to have a secure delete process in place to protect sensitive and confidential data from being exposed. There are various ways to securely delete a file or folder in Windows. The following steps will explain the various methods available for secure deletion in Windows.

The first method of secure deletion involves using the Windows Command Prompt. This method requires the use of the Cipher command. This command is used for encrypting and decrypting data. To use this command to securely delete a file or folder, open the Command Prompt and type the following command:

Cipher /w:foldername

The “/w” switch indicates that the folder should be wiped clean. This will effectively delete all files and folders in the specified folder.

The second method of secure deletion involves using an external tool such as Eraser. This tool is a free and open source file shredder that can be used to securely delete data. To use Eraser, simply download and install it, then select the files or folders that you want to delete. You can then specify the type of delete process you want to use, such as “Completely Overwrite” or “Random Overwrite”.

Another method of secure deletion is to use the Windows Recycle Bin. This method can be used to securely delete files and folders. To use this method, simply right-click on the file or folder that you want to delete and select “Delete”. The file or folder will then be moved to the Recycle Bin. Once it is in the Recycle Bin, you can right-click on it and select “Empty Recycle Bin” to securely delete the data.

Finally, another method of secure deletion is to use third-party software such as CCleaner. This tool is a free system optimization and privacy tool that can be used to securely delete data. To use CCleaner, simply download and install it, then select the files or folders that you want to delete. You can then specify the type of delete process you want to use, such as “Overwrite Free Space” or “Secure Delete”.

These are the various methods available for securely deleting data in Windows. It is important to understand that none of these methods are foolproof, so it is important to make sure that you have other security measures in place as well. For example, making regular backups of important data is a good way to ensure that it can be recovered if it is accidentally deleted.