On 2/17/03 11:32 AM, "James" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Spew into the Cybertrough:
> I assume shredding is much better for personal and operating system health > reasons? When it says that the trashed file is still physically located on > your disk until another file overwrites it, does that mean that the original > file then becomes deleted forever when it is written over? How can I tell if a > certain file has been overwritten? Can I permanently delete a file without > using a product like Safeshred? What happens is when you delete a file it's directory entry is erased. The file still exists until it is necessary to overwrite it.. Think of it as a library. When you permanently remove a book (file) the book (file) is not removed from the library (Hard Disk) immediately. That would be a waste of resources. All that is done is the Card Catalog entry (directory data) is removed. Then when another book (file) needs the space the librarian (Operating System) goes out into the shelves and places a new book (file) where the old one is and throws the old one out. This way the librarian doesn't make 2 trips needlessly. One to remove the file, and another to place a new file later on. Programs like safe shred shred the 1's and 0's that make up the file data, but it is just a program. All program's can be reverse engineered to recover data. Which brings me to my point. The *only* way to completely erase your hard disk it to shred it...and I am not talking about the software program. I am talking about physical destruction. You are never truly safe. Just relax and don't worry about it. If you have something THAT important to hide you should use removeable media and keep it on your person. -- ============================================================== Kyle H. Hansen Apple Certified Technician Apple Solution Expert Macintosh Server Administrator [EMAIL PROTECTED] ============================================================== Jesus saves...but Gretzky grabs the rebound and backhands for a goal!!!! -- G-Books is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> G-Books list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/> --------------------------------------------------------------- >The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---------------------------------------------------------------
