Electronic Frontier Foundation - How to - Delete your Data Securely on Windows

Description

This resource provides a step-by-step guide on how to securely delete data on Windows operating systems. It specifically focuses on traditional disk drives and does not apply to Solid State Drives (SSDs), USB keys/thumb drives, or SD cards/flash. The guide is intended for beginners and requires a minimum of Windows XP or later.

The main purpose of this resource is to assist users in permanently deleting their data in a secure manner. It emphasizes the importance of properly disposing of sensitive information to protect privacy and prevent unauthorized access. The resource recommends using BleachBit 2, a software tool licensed under GPLv3, to accomplish this task.

The time required for securely deleting files or disks can vary depending on their size. It may take anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours. The resource does not provide contact details or copyright information.

Overall, this tool offers a straightforward approach to data deletion on Windows systems, ensuring that users can effectively remove their information from traditional disk drives. It is important to note that the instructions provided are not applicable to SSDs, USB keys/thumb drives, or SD cards/flash.

More Information

https://ssd.eff.org/module/how-delete-your-data-securely-windows