ParetoLogic Privacy Controls > Tutorials > Can an Erased File Still be Recovered after deleting with Windows Explorer?
Can an Erased File Still be Recovered after deleting with Windows Explorer?
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Important: Files, Images absolutely CANNOT be recovered after shredding with ParetoLogic Privacy Controls.
ParetoLogic Privacy Controls is a powerful tool that you can use to remove files and erase history on your system. You are in control of erasing or deleting unwanted files from your computer. You can erase an item from your system using ParetoLogic Privacy Controls and never have to worry about it being restored or found on your system again.
Windows Explorer and ParetoLogic Privacy Controls
Windows Explorer Erase
Windows Explorer will not permanently erase or delete a file. When an item is selected and deleted, it is put in the Recycle Bin. The item is removed from its original location, but it is still on the system and can be found and restored very easily. Any items that are deleted in this way are not actually erased from your hard drive. This type of removal is good for non-sensitive items, which could be recovered quickly. This type of file eraser is not recommended for items and files that are sensitive.
Any data that has been erased in this manner can be detected using Windows Explorer or other ways.
ParetoLogic Privacy Erase
ParetoLogic Privacy Controls can perform a secure delete and also a permanent erase (shred) on your unwanted data. There are many ways to set the options and it depends on the results you want. You can either perform a secure delete that could be recovered with special programs or you can do an erase using one of the shred level settings that cannot be recovered. Any item that is erased using ParetoLogic Privacy Controls is not put in the Recycle Bin and cannot be restored. These types of removal (delete or erase/shred) are good for any items or files that are sensitive. Any files you do not want to be recovered without the use of a special program or files you do not want to ever be restored no matter what, should be removed with ParetoLogic Privacy Controls.
Any data that has been erased in this manner can NOT be detected using Windows Explorer or other ways.
Delete Verses Erase in ParetoLogic Privacy Controls
The terms “delete” and “erase” are often used interchangeably when talking about removing unwanted files from your system, but they are not the same when you are using ParetoLogic Privacy Controls. They are both good to use for getting rid of unwanted data, but there is a difference in their meanings.
The following screen shows the Erase option in ParetoLogic Privacy Controls:
This screenshot shows the Erase/Shred option in ParetoLogic Privacy Controls:
You will have to decide which one to use depending on the files you want to remove. The files can be removed permanently, or removed and possibly recovered using recovery software; the process you use to get rid of them will make the difference. You can find more information on delete and erase here:
What is the Difference Between Delete and Erase in ParetoLogic Privacy Controls?
ParetoLogic Privacy Controls Erase Process
ParetoLogic Privacy Controls does not just remove the files to the Recycle Bin. The data is overwritten. Your computers data is created from “bytes” of information based on a binary numeric system. Each byte is made of a set of zeroes and ones, such as 0101100110. The Shred tool in ParetoLogic Privacy Controls uses overwrite technology which is a way of taking the stored data and replacing it with a different group of numbers. This usually is done with a random set of zeroes and ones, all ones, or all zeros.
Warning: Once you have shred items there is no way to recover them. We strongly recommend that you check every item that you selected to shred; to be sure they are all unwanted files before you proceed.
It depends on the Shred Level whether the items are permanently erased or if they are deleted with the possibility of restoration with recovery software. You will need to set up ParetoLogic Privacy Controls correctly to take care of all of your unwanted files.