- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows Vista, Windows 95, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 98
- Date added: May 12, 2009
- Total Downloads: 683,609
- Downloads last week: 2,457
- See full specifications
A newer version of Eraser is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 186 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
A few minor complaints aside, this free file shredder is by and large a solid find. Eraser's all-business interface won't win any design awards, but it's mostly convenient to use, allowing you to add files or folders to be deleted via drag-and-drop transfers. However, since the program lacks a dedicate deletion button or icon, you'll have to dig through the menu items to actually erase data. This misstep is somewhat negated by the fact that Eraser integrates into the Windows' context menu, letting you shred files via a right click. We're glad to see the program lets you choose from four secure government-sanctioned deletion algorithms, and we appreciate the inclusion of a scheduler, handy for routinely wiping free disk space. In our tests, Eraser got rid of a 1GB file in 10 minutes--impressive, considering we employed the most secure deletion method. Anyone seeking to eradicate documents for good should take a long look at this freebie.Publisher's description
From Heidi Computers :Eraser is an advanced security tool for Windows that allows you to completely remove sensitive data from your hard drive by overwriting it several times with carefully selected patterns. The patterns used for overwriting are based on Peter Gutmann's paper Secure Deletion of Data from Magnetic and Solid-State Memory and are selected to effectively remove magnetic remnants from the hard drive.
Other methods include the one defined in the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual of the U.S. Department of Defence, and overwriting with pseudorandom data. You can also define your own overwriting methods.
What's new in this version:
Version 5.86 includes unspecified updates.
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User reviews of Eraser 5.86a
- Average user rating: 4.1 stars out of 186 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 7 user reviewsSee all 7 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: Eraser 5.86a
Pros: I like being able to chose the level that it erases. Some things I do 35, junk only 3 times.It always performs to my satisfaction and it is free! No problems downloading or installing. Quick and easy!
Cons: Nothing that I don't like!
Summary: The product works! I have erased things and then tried to get it back (as a test) and the files can not be restored. This is what I need. So that all my personal information can't be brought back up. It is fast and have never had the program fail to... read more >>
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Version: Eraser 5.86a
"An excellent user friendly program that delivers!"
Pros: Liked everything about it; very simple to use, good instructions, and easy choice for the extent of over-writing. And to top it all, it is free. The programmers should be supported!
Cons: Nothing I disliked at all!
Summary: A very user friendly program that delivers exactly what it professes to do. Simple straight forward instructions make it very easy to use. Used it for most of my sensitive files and folders, and followed by nuking the lot! And the latter took only j... read more >>
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Version: Eraser 5.86a
"Idiot proof. Extremely easy to use :)"
Pros: It's a small program but very powerful results at what it does. Easy on system resources, quick to erase even when handling large amounts of data. Simple interface. Many erasing options when right-clicking the recycle bin.
Cons: Nothing negative to say about this product. For a free product you can't ask for more.
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Version: Eraser 5.86a
Pros: Works well for files and data drives. Good variety of procedures.
Cons: Useless to erase free space on root drive - keeps crashing.
MAJOR IRRITANT: Can't eliminate from system tray.Summary:
After multiple tries, I managed to remove the icon from the system tray.
Updated on May 28, 2009
Updated on May 29, 2009The program re-installed the try ic... read more >> -
Version: Eraser 5.86a
"when you need to delete something permentlly."
Pros: easy to use, quick and does excellent job.
Cons: Excellent product.
Summary: If it's good enough for the defense dept, it's good enough for me.
- See all 7 user reviews Write review
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