Secure Delete
Secure file destruction with 13 wipe methods ranging from single-pass random to 35-pass Gutmann, with real-time progress tracking.
Overview
Secure Delete overwrites file data with specific byte patterns before deletion, defeating forensic recovery. Open it from the Tools menu (☰) or the Ctrl+K command palette. It offers a multi-job interface with drag-and-drop file addition, parallel processing, pause/resume, per-file pass tracking, and real-time speed and ETA display.
Wipe Methods
Choose from 13 wipe standards based on your security requirements:
| Method | Passes | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Delete | 0 | Direct deletion (recoverable) |
| Pseudo-Random | 1 | Single random overwrite |
| HMG IS5 Baseline | 1 | UK IS5 baseline (fill 0x00) |
| GOST P50739-95 | 2 | Russian standard |
| US Army AR 380-19 | 3 | US Army standard |
| USAF AFSSI 5020 | 3 | US Air Force standard |
| HMG IS5 Enhanced | 3 | UK IS5 enhanced |
| DoD 5220.22-M | 3 | US DoD 3-pass standard |
| VSITR | 7 | German federal standard |
| Schneier | 7 | Bruce Schneier algorithm |
| RCMP TSSIT OPS-II | 7 | Canadian RCMP standard |
| DoD 5220.22-M C & E | 7 | US DoD extended variant |
| Gutmann | 35 | Maximum security (35-pass) |
Choosing a Method
For most users, DoD 5220.22-M (3-pass) provides an excellent balance of security and speed. Use Pseudo-Random (1 pass) for fast bulk wiping of non-sensitive data. Choose Gutmann (35 passes) only when compliance or regulation demands maximum overwrite security — it is significantly slower due to the number of passes.
On modern SSDs, a single random overwrite is generally sufficient because of wear-levelling and TRIM. Multi-pass methods are most effective on traditional spinning-disk (HDD) drives.