Autoruns vs ShredIt

Autoruns shows programs and drivers configured to run during Windows boot, login, or when certain built-in Windows applications start. It reports startup items from locations such as the Startup folder, Registry keys, Explorer extensions, services, scheduled tasks, and Winlogon entries. Users can hide signed Microsoft entries to focus on third-party items, inspect startup images configured for other accounts, and disable an entry or delete its configuration. Scan options include signature verification and VirusTotal hash checks; submitting files not previously scanned requires the upload option, and VirusTotal features require accepting its terms. The download includes Autorunsc, a command-line version that can output CSV or tab-delimited data, verify signatures, and scan an offline Windows system. The Autoruns and Autorunsc download is listed as 3 MB, and Microsoft offers a Sysinternals Live option. Autoruns costs nothing, with no limit on installation or use on devices owned or supported by the user, but no redistribution license. Microsoft says Sysinternals tools are provided as is without official support and points users to a community forum.

ShredIt erases data by overwriting it, covering individual files and folders as well as deleted data, free space, and entire drives. It can also handle external drives, USB flash drives, and CD-RWs. Users can choose an overwrite pattern and set the number of overwrite passes; optional standards include DoD 5220, DoE, NSA, and Gutmann. Windows enables DoD 5220 Clear by default. Safety features include a pre-shred confirmation, Safe Place, and Don’t Panic for free-space erasure or disk wiping. Items can be added by dragging and dropping or choosing them from a menu, with a progress bar showing the operation. The maker offers a free trial, but trial files and folders are deleted rather than shredded. ShredIt is listed for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. The Windows and Mac apps each cost $24.95 as a one-time purchase. The maker’s download page lists ShredIt X v7.0.1 and ShredIt for Windows v6.0.0; Mac compatibility includes specified older releases as well as macOS 11 and 12.