Eraser is free software released under the GNU General Public License
Eraser securely deletes files, folders and free disk space on Windows by overwriting them with set patterns. Free and open source. Pros, cons, download.
Development is slow and the interface looks dated
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You can erase files and folders, wipe the unused space on a drive to destroy previously deleted files, and set up tasks that run on a schedule or at restart.
For modern hard drives a single overwrite pass is generally considered enough.
Overwrites unused disk space to destroy files deleted earlier.
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The source code is released under the GNU GPL.
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Use the drive’s secure erase function or full-disk encryption for SSDs (official notes for Eraser).
Wiping SSDs, where the drive’s own secure erase or full-disk encryption is more reliable.
The default method for files is the slow 35-pass Gutmann method; a single pseudorandom pass is enough for modern drives and is much faster, so change it in Settings if you erase large amounts of data.
A File Explorer context-menu entry lets you erase items without opening the main window.
Eraser is a proven free tool for permanently destroying files on hard drives, with Explorer integration and a flexible scheduler.
Includes Gutmann (35 passes), DoD 5220.22-M and pseudorandom overwrite.
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Runs erase tasks immediately, on a schedule or at the next restart.
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Eraser overwrites the data itself several times with patterns from published standards, such as the Gutmann method and the US DoD 5220.22-M manual, or with pseudorandom data.
The 35-pass Gutmann method is offered but takes far longer.
AxCrypt File Encryption Tool File encryption tool with AES-256, key sharing and secured folders; the free plan encrypts 2 files a month.
When Windows deletes a file, it only removes the reference to it; the data stays on the disk until something overwrites it, and undelete tools can often recover it.
Windows 11 is not on the official list of supported systems
Erase files from the right-click menu in File Explorer
Bitwarden Password Manager Open-source cloud password manager with a free plan for unlimited passwords on all your devices.
People who sell or give away a PC with a hard disk, or who need to destroy sensitive files on HDDs and USB drives.
Overwriting cannot guarantee removal on SSDs because of wear leveling
It runs, but SSDs move data around internally, so overwriting a file does not guarantee every copy is gone.
Its methods were designed for magnetic disks; on SSDs, overwriting cannot guarantee that every copy is gone.
Overwrites data so undelete tools cannot recover it.
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On the download page, pick the latest stable Eraser 6.2 build, not the Alpha or nightly builds.
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