Does anyone know a good program that destroys data?

[havyck]

One that actually works AND works on Vista?

[daveybabes]

Data?

Destroys data?

what do u mean? why do u want to destroy data on your PC?

Well u can only google and try different ones like "killdisk" free version or similar.

[mystic fred]

surely the only way to destroy data on a hard drive is to format it...?

[The Source]

If you really want to destroy data and make it completely irretrievable, open up your pc, remove your hard drive and physically destroy it- and do it properly...

[togs]

Good freebie is DBAN, but only if you want to wipe out everything.:

http://dban.sourceforge.net/

[Boingo]

This sounds like more than holding the shift key down while deleting a file.

Sounds like you want something that not only prevents recovery from the recycle bin but something that wipes any trace from the hard drive. I used to use some old utilities that not only deleted but overwrote the data 3 times. I used it to get rid of my "how to blow up the world" files. Wouldn't work for Vista.

Is that what you are looking for? A wipe or shred program?

A search will reveal several programs (some meet the military standards for this). They will cost. If you search hard enough you could probably find one for free.

[M_C_M]

Is that the FBI I hear knocking...

[SuperPuss]

One effective and free method that works on any OS is to format the drive and then record audio or video until the drive is full again, then re-format.
Repeat more than once if you really want to make sure everything is irretrievable.

[evil1rox]

Is that the FBI I hear knocking...

LOL!! It's probably not as insidious as you're thinking. I was looking for something similar when I was going to sell my old Mac.

-I didn't want the new owner to magicly find my bank account number or credit card statement by recovering my deleted files.

As I ended up giving it to my mother.. I didn't feel the need to progress further, but as I understand there is software available that doesn't patently "destroy" the files that remain, but rather add so much garbage to the files it renders them unreadable if recovered.

-I'm sure some of the more techno-savy types will chime in...but I'd like to know too... in case mom gets saucy with my credit card.

E

[SuperPuss]

E1R, see my post above yours. It is free and it works

[Alan VEX]

As has been mentioned, DBAN is probably one of the best.

[The Source]

Who in particular are you looking to prevent from accessing said data dude? If it's just some average Joe an unconditional reformat will do fine. If it's a pro (I'm talking a real pro) several reformats (3-4+) will do the trick. Change filesystem types, allocation sizes, and whatever other parameters you have control over between successive formats. But if you're talking a law enforcement agency, or an organisation with the real-deal retrieval tools, physically destroying the drive is the only surefire way to positively destroy said data. I've heard certain people suggest using a magnet to physically erase the drive, but you're unlikely to have any magnets with sufficient magnetism to get the job done. If you want to take that route, use neodymium iron boron (NIB) magnets or a samarium cobalt magnet- neither of which is cheap. Like I say though man, if you want to be sure, destroy it and dispose of it well...

[Alan VEX]

Personally, I rip the HDD's out and drill holes through them.

Most, I keep... I have about 10-15 laying around here somewhere... I hope they're safe.

[SuperPuss]

Remove the platters and send them to CERN to bombard with their LHC. That'll wipe the data permanently!!!

[The Source]

Good call Alan, although technically it's still theoretically possible to retrieve bits and pieces here and there.. Dynamite anyone?