Shredder

Though it earns points for its extra features, this utility disappoints with its performance as a file shredder. The interface is simple to understand and can be dressed up with a number of included skins. However, some of the skins make the program's icons render strangely when viewed in window mode. The developers claim that files or folders deleted with this utility can't be restored. However, in our tests, we recovered some shredded data using a third-party application. Also, although the program offers three security levels, you won't find government-sanctioned algorithms for deleting files, a perk many of Shredder's competitors offer. Besides its main job, this program wipes away your Web-surfing tracks and can delete the histories of popular applications such as Word, WinZip, Excel, and Windows Media Player. Though Shredder might work as a quick-and-dirty privacy solution, it's not the best bet for securely zapping sensitive information.