Alternate File Shredder vs D-Secure File Eraser

Alternate File Shredder is a free Windows program for permanently deleting files and folders. It can also overwrite a drive’s free space to reduce the chance of recovering files that were previously deleted. For overwrite patterns, users can choose a specific value, random values, or file content. It does not wipe entire drives or schedule shredding tasks. The maker describes the program as freeware and open source. Its listed systems are Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11, and Server;.NET Framework 2.0 is required, and the page says it has been included with Windows since Vista. The maker lists 20 languages, including English, German, Spanish, French, Chinese, and Japanese. The listed version is 3.100, dated 13.02.2026, and the freeware plan costs nothing. The maker warns that users run the program at their own risk and should take care when selecting files to delete. A contact form is available for messages.

D-Secure File Eraser overwrites file data at the sector level with the aim of making it unrecoverable. It can target files and folders, unallocated space and MFT data, cached cloud-sync copies, network shares, archives and full volumes. The product lists more than 27 sanitization algorithms, including NIST Clear/Purge, DoD, Gutmann, HMG IS5 and RCMP standards. Erasure jobs can run through CLI or REST API, webhooks, Windows Task Scheduler, cron and Group Policy hooks. Administrators can remotely execute and monitor jobs across endpoints with the Cloud Console. Each erasure produces a digitally signed PDF report containing a file hash, algorithm, pass count, operator ID and UTC timestamp; the maker also describes WORM-compliant audit logs. It says AES-256-CBC encryption is applied before overwriting, and interrupted erasures leave data cryptographically inaccessible. Windows, macOS and Linux are supported. The annual subscription starts at $40 a year, and a 30-day trial is available; there is no free plan.