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Utility Makes Sure 'Deleted' Files Really Are

German utility firm 1-abc.net announced it is shipping a new product aimed at making sure that files you delete stay deleted.

File Washer 1.0 provides eight different ways to delete files, all of which start by actually overwriting the old file before removing it, according to a statement from Oldenburg, Germany-based 1-abc.net.

One way, known as the “Gutman Method,” overwrites the file data 35 times. An additional feature lets you overwrite deleted files with another file so that any recovery attempts yield only the replacement file, not the originally-deleted files.

The utility works on hard drives, floppy disks and USB memory sticks. It can be installed on memory sticks, floppy disks and virtually any other rewriteable media.

File Washer 1.0 costs $14.95 and runs on Windows 2000 and Windows XP. The download is 101 KB.

About the Author

Stuart J. Johnston has covered technology, especially Microsoft, since February 1988 for InfoWorld, Computerworld, Information Week, and PC World, as well as for Enterprise Developer, XML & Web Services, and .NET magazines.

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