User Reviews

Eraser

Eraser is a secure file deletion tool that allows you to completely remove sensitive data from your hard drive by overwriting it several times with sophisticated patterns (Gutman, USDoD and others). ...

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Average of 24 user ratings:

Jun 06, 2008
For version:
5.86a

Very good program

Interface: 3
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

I try many shredders and this one is the best. An especially good feature is "Locked files" - it enables resolving of file locking (after restart). In many cases this program help me to delete a file which seemed to be undeleteable (just because it was locked by another process). Recommend it to everyone.

Review by: mars11
First post

Apr 29, 2008
For version:
5.86a

Good proggie, but not for the easy minded

Interface: 1
Features: 4
Ease of use: 3
Value: 5
Overall:

It does exactly what it should, however the GUI is not upto scratch considering the competition. Having said that, I use it with pleasure, but can imagine that some would require a more user-friendly interface.

Review by: BENDECHO (5)
Read all 5 reviews by BENDECHO

Apr 09, 2008
For version:
5.86a

Certainly adequate for home use

Interface: 3
Features: 3
Ease of use: 4
Value: 5
Overall:

I used this to wipe a hard drive before selling my PC on ebay, to remove any possibility of my stored passwords and personal files being recovered by an unscrupulous buyer. I then tried a myriad of recovery programs (free and paid-for) and none could find any files to recover, which is good enough for me. Some of the other reviews on here are frankly quite disturbing - what on earth do you guys have on your hard drive that you would want to be protected from forensic investigation? The RIAA aren't that bothered about your mp3s, seriously. Professional data recovery services aren't cheap. You're safe with Eraser.

Review by: Deejay (4)
Read all 4 reviews by Deejay

Feb 06, 2008
For version:
5.86a

Excellent piece of software

Interface: 3
Features: 4
Ease of use: 4
Value: 5
Overall:

Nice bit of software. Easy to use and very thorough. I especially like the way it integrates in the right click menu when using the recycle bin....

Review by: dunlorn (2)
Read all 2 reviews by dunlorn

Feb 04, 2008
For version:
5.86a

Works great

Interface: 5
Features: 4
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

Fantastic secure deletion utility with the additional ability to securely delete your hard drive`s free space. One thing I would like to see added is the ability to pick and choose the type of erasure for the recycle bin instead of having all seven choices to choose from each time I attempt to erase my recycle bin.

Review by: Shodan816 (11)
Read all 11 reviews by Shodan816

Feb 02, 2008
For version:
5.7

The standard for secure file deletion

Interface: 3
Features: 5
Ease of use: 4
Value: 4
Overall:

Great application for secure file removal. And obviously the best feature of it being completely free!

Review by: foxmulder881
First post

Jul 30, 2007
For version:
5.7

Complete, proven, fast, free

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

Best of the lot. Not only can you erase a file directly from right-click, you can erase the recycle bin the same way if you "forgot". Best of all, you can wipe all free space (including the unused bits of re-allocated clusters) if you think you might have left some confidential files un-erased. Tried this app because of other comments, thanks guys, no regrets!

Review by: mikesantana (35)
Read all 35 reviews by mikesantana

Jun 26, 2007
For version:
5.7

Great default app for secure deletion.

Interface: 4
Features: 5
Ease of use: 3
Value: 5
Overall:

Excellent secure eraser. Allows Windows integration (right click, select Erase). The app allows to secure-erase empty space. Have been happily using with XP last few years.

Review by: g246020 (3)
Read all 3 reviews by g246020

May 14, 2007
For version:
5.7

The standard.

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

Widely imitated, this program has not been exceeded by any other and it has truly replaced all that preceeded it. not only does it surpass DoD spec wiping, it includes Dr. Gutmans method as well. It can even take in YOUR method, if you take the time to input it. it can also work from commandline and a boot floppy or cd-dvd. this is the first and last word in free disc space wiping, scheduled maintenance, single file wiping and disc wiping. i have many intelligence community clients who test the quality of my services, especially when using this utility, and they are more than satisfied. not only can you specify your wipes, there is drag and drop as well as contextual access and an EXCELLENT help file that will educate you more than you ever care to be educated on the subject. Sami Tolvanen, you are indeed a legend in my neck of the woods, and i thank you for your thoughtful authorship. Eraser is a work of art.

Review by: jackfrost (35)
Read all 35 reviews by jackfrost

Mar 16, 2007
For version:
5.7

The best file erase program I have found.

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

Deleting files in Windows doesn't really remove the file. It just removes the reference to those files which means a data recovery program can still restore them. When you right click on the recycle bin and select erase recycle bin, Eraser overwrites the contents of the recycle bin to completely obliterate any data that was there. I have tried different file shredding programs but found this one to be the best for Windows. Once you use Eraser on a file you can be assured that it really is erased and not just deleted!

Review by: AdeptSystems (6)
Read all 6 reviews by AdeptSystems

Mar 15, 2007
For version:
5.7

Great tool!

Interface: 4
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

This is simple one of the best file-eraser tools.

Review by: Koro_shite_yaru (27)
Read all 27 reviews by Koro_shite_yaru

Dec 23, 2006
For version:
5.7

Good

Interface: 5
Features: 4
Ease of use: 5
Value: 4
Overall:

Easy to use, nice setup for deletion. On demand drag and drop is very good. I do recommend this program to my friends.

Review by: Rambosden (3)
Read all 3 reviews by Rambosden

Sep 23, 2006
For version:
5.7

Ok but be careful

Interface: 2
Features: 3
Ease of use: 4
Value: 5
Overall:

Excellent program, will tell you the files that it couldnt wipe "file slack" from. 1st time I've seen an eraser program that tells the truth about how well/bad its performed so you can do something about it. 10/10 for that. It is a confusing interface, at first, so be careful if you only want to wipe free space make sure it is only set to wipe free space. If you are not sure of that then you will wipe your data.Excellent program - will recommend to many more

Review by: doctor
First post

May 27, 2006
For version:
5.7

System restore xp

Interface: 2
Features: 4
Ease of use: 3
Value: 2
Overall:

Heidi Eraser has one problem; it erases all System Restore points in XP when you do an unused disk space erase. And you can not change the settings to stop it doing that. I can put the long time it takes to erase, but for the above problem...

Review by: magnetic56 (5)
Read all 5 reviews by magnetic56

Aug 03, 2005
For version:
5.7

Best eraser utility

Interface: 4
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

Great program. works perfectly but if your not careful about the erase mode you will not be able to recover your data if you make a mistake. Support this program so they keep improving it.

Review by: busybusy (48)
Read all 48 reviews by busybusy

May 14, 2005
For version:
5.7

Almost as good as dban

Interface: 3
Features: 4
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

Apparently scogan didn't test DBAN. It runs self contained from the bootable media of your choice. Erasers is a good second option. However the only way to protect yourself from forensic prying is to liquify your harddrive -- yes, literally.

Review by: BeLessBoredSoon
First post

Apr 05, 2005
For version:
5.7

Simple, but effective.

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

It's got no bells and whistles, but it does the job and it does it right. I tend to use AxCrypts built in shredder for single file deletions but when I want to clear the free space on my hard drive, this is my program of choice.

Review by: Mustard (11)
Read all 11 reviews by Mustard

Feb 28, 2005
For version:
5.7

Beats forensic recovery software

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

I work in an office connected to the criminal justice system and have had occasion to use forensic imaging and file recovery software. We pitted twenty-two shredders (including BCWipe, Evidence Eliminator, NoEvidence, WindowWasher, and the AnalogX product) against the industry standard digital evidence aquisition products. Only with a file structure wiped by Eraser were we able to prevent the forensic software from recovering files. There's no better software for _permanently_ deleting sensitive data.

Review by: scogan
First post

Dec 31, 2004
For version:
5.7

Excellent piece of freeware!

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

How do I know if it is good? Comparing to other products like sure del, analogx shredder. Why? I had the file downloaded from snapfiles called Restoration. After I run this program Eraser, I practically don't see the files anymore from Restoration, But Restoration still see if it is eraser by other program. One note, you can copy everything to your network drive without installing. but you have to copy one dll that resides in windowssystem32. First I install, and then make a clone and uninstall and copy the dll file back to my network drive. It will work without installing in this case. It is pretty handy! However, the author didn't tell you that you can do that!

Review by: homeflash (63)
Read all 63 reviews by homeflash

Oct 24, 2004
For version:
5.7

Eraser

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

A very easy program to use and it's delete (overwrite)you're files safely. Once a files have been overwrite by it, then it will totally cannot being recover anymore so be careful when you want to overwrite any files. I try a lot of program like eraser but i think eraser is the best of all and another best program was PGP (pretty good privacy. Eraser is very good for those who have sensitive data in their system.

Review by: Kennysimpp (27)
Read all 27 reviews by Kennysimpp

Oct 14, 2004
For version:
5.7

Eraser is the best...

Interface: 5
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

If you're finding a easy and secure program to erase you're sensitive data on you're system, then erase is the best one. I try a lot of program like eraser but i think eraser is the best cause you just simply right click on the data that you want to delete then just select erase. It's so easy to use and it's amazing.

Review by: kennyspp (8)
Read all 8 reviews by kennyspp

Sep 01, 2004
For version:
5.7

The best

Interface: 4
Features: 5
Ease of use: 5
Value: 5
Overall:

Have used Sure Delete, AnalogX and were all very good, but Eraser is the best. Very easy to use, clean interface and with right click any file to delete makes it a winner. 100% recommendation ..download, you will not be disappointed

Review by: martin60 (3)
Read all 3 reviews by martin60

Jul 15, 2004
For version:
5.7

Erasing details

Interface: 4
Features: 4
Ease of use: 4
Value: 5
Overall:

If you are paranoid about leaving information on your computer or in my case moving a hard disc to a spare computer to sell on, this cleanup program is excellent, it will destroy any stored data on the device, that is unless the person I sold it to works for a Computer Forensic Agency. For the rest of us, this program will make the data unrecoverable and as it is free I cannot fault it.

Review by: LJSWales (30)
Read all 30 reviews by LJSWales

Feb 01, 2004
For version:
NA

Eraser

Interface: 0
Features: 0
Ease of use: 0
Value: 0
Overall:

I think that software secure delete would be useless against hardware recovery tactics. That is just what I think. I have read that Gutmann is only the approved method for a secure delete? So anyway, if there is such thing as - software secure delete, then this program should do it. Krom

Review by: TideWalker (25)
Read all 25 reviews by TideWalker