PGP Shredding Files and Free Disk Space

To securely delete files on Windows PCs, Wellesley College uses Symantec PGP Desktop. The secure deletion feature works by overwriting your data with random text. It repeats this multiple times, or passes. It can be used to shred individual files or folders, or to shred all free space on the computer that may contain data from previously deleted files or programs.

This method that ensures the deleted files cannot be accessed, even through the usage of data-recovery software.
For information on how to install PGP Desktop, click here
Warning
Once files (and folders) have been securely deleted, they CANNOT BE RECOVERED. When using PGP Shredder, be sure that the files you are deleting will no longer be needed.
Drag and drop the files/folders you want to shred onto the PGP Shredder icon. A confirmation dialog box is displayed, asking you to confirm that you want to shred (secure delete) the listed files and/or folders.
Click Yes. The files are securely deleted from your system.
To shred files in PGP Desktop
In the PGP Desktop main application window, select Tools > Shred Files. The Open dialog box is displayed.
Select the files on your system you want to shred, then click Open. A confirmation dialog box is displayed, asking you to confirm that you want to shred (secure delete) the listed files and/or folders.
Click Yes. The files are securely deleted from your system.
To shred files by right-clicking in Windows Explorer
In Windows Explorer, right-click files/folders you want to shred. A confirmation dialog box is displayed, asking you to confirm that you want to shred (secure delete) the listed files and/or folders.
Click Yes. The files are securely deleted from your system.
Note: The shred session can be lengthy, depending on such factors as the number of passes you specified, the speed of the processor, and how many other applications are running. 
PGP Shredder does not delete the following items:
Windows system files or files that are read-only.
Note: Note that the Thumbs.db file, created when viewing thumbnail graphics in Windows Explorer, is a special case and can be shredded even though the file has the system attribute set. 
WebDav or Sharepoint files. Files that can be deleted are local files and CIFS shared files.
Directories containing files that cannot be deleted.
Shred Free Space on disk
PGP Shred Free Space allows you to erase free disk space that could contain data from previously deleted files and programs. It is especially important to use the PGP Shred Free Space Assistant on Journaling file systems such as NTFS, as such file systems make a second copy of everything written to disk in a file system journal. This allows you to destroy sensitive files or folders completely.
To use the PGP Shred Free Space Assistant
Open PGP Desktop.
Select PGP Disk > PGP Shred Free Space. The Introduction screen of the PGP Shred Free Space Assistant is displayed.
Read the information, then click Next.
In the Shred drive field, select the disk or volume you want to shred and the number of passes you want PGP Shred Free Space to perform. While three passes with PGP Shred are sufficient to securely delete the data, you can specify up to 49 passes. The recommended guidelines for number of passes are:
3 passes for personal use.
10 passes for commercial use.
18 passes for military use.
26 passes for maximum security
Choose whether to shred internal NTFS data structures. This option is not available on all systems.
Caution: If the selected partition is not your boot partition, you can perform an intensive shred operation that overwrites internal NTFS data structures that may hold residual data. The partition will be completely filled during this process, and as such you should not use the disk for anything else while the free space shred operation is in progress.
Some of these structures are not generally considered free space on your drive, but the techniques employed by this option will cause them to be shredded. This option does not increase the risk of anything negative happening to your disk as a result of the shredding operation. 
Click Next. The Perform Shred dialog box is displayed, containing statistical information about the drive or volume you selected.
Click Begin Shred.
After PGP Shred Free Space completes, click Next.
Click Finish.

For information on installing PGP Desktop, click here .

WARNING

Once files (and folders) have been securely deleted, they CANNOT BE RECOVERED . When using PGP Shredder, be sure that the files you are deleting will no longer be needed.

 

PGP Shredder does not delete the following items:

  • Windows system files or files that are read-only.
    • Note that the Thumbs.db file, created when viewing thumbnail graphics in Windows Explorer, is a special case and can be shredded even though the file has the system attribute set. 
  • WebDav or Sharepoint files. Files that can be deleted are local files and CIFS shared files.
  • Directories containing files that cannot be deleted.

 

To shred files using the PGP Shredder icon on your Desktop

Drag and drop the files/folders you want to shred onto the PGP Shredder icon. A confirmation dialog box is displayed, asking you to confirm that you want to shred (secure delete) the listed files and/or folders.

Click Yes . The files are securely deleted from your system.

To shred files by right-clicking in Windows Explorer

In Windows Explorer, right-click files/folders you want to shred. A confirmation dialog box is displayed, asking you to confirm that you want to shred (secure delete) the listed files and/or folders.

Click Yes . The files are securely deleted from your system.

Note: The shred session can be lengthy, depending on such factors as the number of passes you specified, the speed of the processor, and how many other applications are running. 

 

To shred files in PGP Desktop

In the PGP Desktop main application window, select  Tools  >  Shred Files . The Open dialog box is displayed.

Select the files on your system you want to shred, then click  Open . A confirmation dialog box is displayed, asking you to confirm that you want to shred (secure delete) the listed files and/or folders.

Click  Yes . The files are securely deleted from your system.

 

Shred Free Space on disk

PGP Shred Free Space allows you to erase free disk space that could contain data from files and programs previously deleted by normal processes and were not shredded. This allows you to destroy sensitive files or folders completely.

To use the PGP Shred Free Space Assistant

Open PGP Desktop.

Select PGP Disk > PGP Shred Free Space . The Introduction screen of the PGP Shred Free Space Assistant is displayed.

Read the information, then click Next.

In the Shred drive field, select the disk or volume you want to shred and the number of passes you want PGP Shred Free Space to perform. While three passes with PGP Shred are sufficient to securely delete the data, you can specify up to 49 passes. The recommended guidelines for number of passes are:


  • Choose whether to shred internal NTFS data structures. This option is not available on all systems.

      • 3 passes for personal use.
      • 10 passes for commercial use.
      • 26 passes for maximum security


      Click Next . The Perform Shred dialog box is displayed, containing statistical information about the drive or volume you selected.

      Click Begin Shred .

      After PGP Shred Free Space completes, click Next .

      Click Finish .

        • Caution: If the selected partition is not your boot partition, you can perform an intensive shred operation that overwrites internal NTFS data structures that may hold residual data. The partition will be completely filled during this process, and as such you should not use the disk for anything else while the free space shred operation is in progress.
        • Some of these structures are not generally considered free space on your drive, but the techniques employed by this option will cause them to be shredded. This option does not increase the risk of anything negative happening to your disk as a result of the shredding operation. 

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