Complete deletion of files without the possibility of recovery
In modern operating systems, such as Windows or macOS, deleting files usually does not mean their complete deletion. Instead, the operating system marks the disk space occupied by files as free for overwriting. This allows you to recover data using special software.
However, there are several methods for more reliable irreversible data cleaning:
1. Overwriting a file with random data: You can use specialized software (for example, CCleaner) or the "shred" command in Linux/Unix systems to repeatedly write random values over deleted files.
2. Hard disk formatting: If you want to delete all data from the hard disk completely and start with a clean installation of the OS, you can format the entire partition either by creating new partitions through OS tools or using third-party software, a typical representative - DBAN.
3. Cryptographic encryption: Encrypting all data on your computer before selling or transferring it to another user is guaranteed to protect it from recovery. You can use disk encryption programs such as BitLocker (Windows) or FileVault (macOS).
4. Physical destruction of the drive: If you want to be absolutely sure that the data cannot be restored, you can physically destroy the hard disk or another data drive.
It is important to remember that permanent file deletion requires a special approach and knowledge of the operating system and data cleaning tools. Therefore, it is recommended to consult with professionals or follow the instructions of the software when using it.