wiping

Help file a must-read

Erasing personal information has become serious business for computer users. File Waster offers you an opportunity to perform a variety of tasks to help keep unwanted eyes from looking at your files.

This is a no-frills program that may look intimidating to first-time users. Fortunately, it makes wiping your data or encrypting files very simple. By dragging the files into File Washer's display, users can decide what they would like to do. While this works well for single files, it would be a chore for large batches of folders and files. Fortunately, File Washer is equipped with a Cabinet … Read more

The right way to destroy an old hard drive

I'm a confirmed pack rat. I've got stacks of old utility-bill statements dating back to the 1980s. Alongside the boxes of ancient paper records in our attic are about a half dozen old PCs. The jewel of my "collection" is an original 60-MHz Pentium PC, complete with the famous floating-point bug. Well, it was famous in 1994.

One benefit of holding onto these PC relics is not worrying about their data falling into the wrong hands. (OK, I suppose a determined thief could break into our attic and walk off with the computer antiques, but I … Read more

Trial version permanently wipes files, folders

Cryptomax WipeData lets users safely and permanently remove files. Because of its trial limitation, we weren't able to try every feature, but it proved to be a capable tool.

The program has a very easy-to-use interface, and a wizard walks you through the deletion process, so you likely won't need any help. Which is good, because none is offered. If you aren't ready to pay for the program, you're only choice is the Normal wipe. The Advanced method has more rewrite options, but requires payment first. With just a few clicks, files and folders were quickly … Read more

Prevent snoops from recovering your erased files

You probably know that when you delete a file, you're not really removing the information from your storage device. Instead, you're designating the space taken up by the file as available for storing new data, should it be needed.

A properly motivated person can recover the deleted information. In fact, data recovery tools such as the free Recuva exist for this very purpose. To keep prying eyes from perusing your deleted data, you need to write over the digital bits that comprise the file. That's where secure-erase utilities come in.

(By the way, the process of recovering … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 820: Stupid cloud

Richard Stallman says anyone who puts their data in the cloud is stupid. Cooley thinks he's right about some things, but finds other parts of his statement stupid. Find out which is which. We also get into a discussion of why exactly the House of Representatives' Web site went down. Cooley doesn't buy any of it. Actually Brian's pretty cranky today. You'll enjoy it. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 820

Stallman rejects cloud computing http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080930-why-stallman-is-wrong-when-he-calls-cloud-computing-stupid.html http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/sep/29/cloud.computing.richard.stallman… Read more

Erase your personal data from the iPhone

So that old, ancient, worn-out, first-generation iPhone is headed out the door. Maybe you'll sell it on eBay. Maybe you'll give it to a friend. But before you send it on its way, you need to get all that personal data off it, such as your e-mail passwords, and those compromising photos of you, and of course, all your friends' e-mail addresses and phone numbers.

Watch the video to see this tip in action.

If you're not too paranoid, the following is all you have to do:

Plug in your iPhone. Launch iTunes. Click on the iPhone … Read more

Letting your data go for good, without a computer

Keeping data is crucial, there's no doubt about this. Data backing up has evolved from as painful as copying files onto a floppy disk to an eye candy with Apple's recent invention of the Time Machine.

However, on the other hand, completely losing data is equally important, when you decide to let go your old hard drive. Trashing files from within the operating system generally doesn't make the information completely go way. And you don't want it to be retrieved by people with ill intention.

Today, Wiebetech introduced the first standalone, consumer-friendly hard drive wiping device … Read more

Power Downloader hides his traces

In his years battling spammers, hackers, and other ne'er-do-wells, Power Downloader has always been quick to capture important information on his digital camera. His pal Francois Foto has been invaluable in analyzing details from Power's snapshots to break big leads and gain an edge on criminals. Power and Francois usually exchange images and other files over a secure FTP connection, and pass notes via encrypted e-mail.

However, sometimes Power has to alter digital images in order to protect individuals or conceal confidential information. In the case of a digital photo that exposes a secret operative, releases personal information, or compromises anyone's safety, Power often needs to remove parts of images before he shares them with anyone else.… Read more