Free File Shredder Tool

Zero (1 Pass)

This is the simplest form of data erasure and includes the creation of a method of overwriting the hard drive or storage medium with zeros in one pass. This is achieved through the creation of new data over the existing data and, therefore, renders it impossible for normal data recovery programs to recover any data, although sophisticated forensic tools can still recover data.

Random (1 Pass)

This involves the creation of a program that overwrites the hard drive or storage medium with randomly selected values of binary codes in one pass. The program is slightly improved because it includes an element of randomness, but it still offers a very basic level of data protection.

Simple (1 Pass)

A simple wipe involves overwriting each of the sectors of the hard drive once, using zero, random, or both. This is a fast and easy process, making it ideal to handle less confidential information where there is a low risk of data recovery.

US DoD / US Air Force (3 Passes)

It is one of the most well-known algorithms of erasing the data that provides reliable data destruction. The US DoD / US Air Force algorithm involves 3 passes: during the first pass the data is overwritten with zero; then in the second pass the data is overwritten again by all "ones" until finally the third random pass takes place to prevent recovery.

U.S. DoD 5220.22-M (3 Passes)

As its name suggests, this method was introduced by U.S. Department of Defense. It is necessary to perform three passes of data erasure according to this method (overwriting the information with 0 and 1 and a random pattern respectively). Consequently, this method provides a sufficient combination of speed and security.

British HMG IS5 (3 Passes)

This sanitization method follows governmental requirements. Thus, you will have to make at least 3 passes over the data on the storage. Moreover, this algorithm provides protection against professional data recovery tools.

Peter Gutmann (35 Passes)

This is one of the most robust and comprehensive wiping algorithms, which involves 35 passes with the use of random and preset data. This is the wiping algorithm developed in the 90s when different types of encoding were used on the hard drives. In this regard, nowadays this wiping option can be called the most extreme wiping algorithm providing the highest level of safety.

GOST R 50739-95 (3 Passes)

This is one of the most robust wiping algorithms, allowing users to achieve the highest level of data security with the help of this algorithm. In case you select this option, the data is being rewritten using a random pattern in 3 passes.

NATO Standard (7 Passes)

This wiping option is certified by NATO and provides 7 passes of wiping with the combination of zeros, ones, and random data. This way, this wiping option will provide a good balance between speed and safety, as the data will not be recoverable using any forensic analysis.