Last week’s CCleaner thread prompted another question, but I didn’t want to hijack that thread (again). I’ve used CCleaner for years across multiple versions of Windows to clean up after various browsers. Other functions I’ve used it is for the Secure Delete and the Free Space Wipe features. Normally, I have CCleaner set for 3 times overwrite. I may be a bit paranoid, but I am wondering what others think about usefulness of the overwrite function.
You are stressing HDD the life lifespan shortens each time you overwrite sectors on HDD.
With this batch script you can add Secure Delete to context menu option in Windows 10.
You are being paranoid. Once is enough to destroy all but the CIA's chances of forensic recovery
As Freebooter says, you are shortening the life of an HDD, and it would be even more stressful for an SSD (basically, never use it on SSDs). Use a Secure Erase tool from the SSD manufacturer.
The only practical use I've made of CCleaner's secure delete is to write zeros to all unused sectors of a usb flash drive before making an image of it. A string of zeros compress remarkably well in a .zip file, or with ntfs compression as with this image of a usb.
I use CCleaner Pro on a daily basis without any problems. When I want to use a Secure Delete I take the Drive out into the drive and use a sledge hammer on it.
I agree with you about backing up junk. But I dont back up browser info anyway, I rely on the browser's own sync.
RE: Wipe free space (Ccleaner)
It takes way too long. If you don't use the 35 passes it may still be possible to recover deleted files. Test using Recuvva.
Download Recuva | Recover deleted files, free!
Beware of 'Wipe Free Space' - CCleaner Discussion - CCleaner Community Forums
Plus if you cancel the wipe it leaves a huge amount of data in a file that you will have to manually delete:
Can I Cancel Wipe Free Space? - CCleaner Discussion - CCleaner Community Forums
SDelete is way faster and only needs one pass. See Posts #2  in this thread:
Using Eraser or SDelete - Windows 7 Help Forums
However I no longer use this method on my SSD.
RE: Not bothering with secure delete or wipe free space. Well i suppose it doesn't matter except for sensitive documents or files. If anyone gets access to your machine (including hackers) they can recover your deleted files.
I remember once finding evidence that my entire "My Documents" folder had been zipped and uploaded somewhere by some exploit when I was using windows 7. So for sensitive personal documents use encryption.
SSD designers developed an interface allowing the operating system to inform the controller that certain blocks are no longer in use via the TRIM command. This allows the internal garbage collector to electronically erase the content of these blocks, preparing them for future write operations. Blocks of data processed by garbage collector are physically erased. Information from such blocks cannot be recovered even with the use of expensive custom hardware. Forensic researchers named this process as “self-corrosion” .
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