Erasers

[Martin]

I paid for an Eraser called East-Tec Eraser, but now I have read about the
dangers of using Registry cleaners (and drive cleaners), I now wonder if it
is safe to use erasers? I am using Vista Ultimate OS.

 

[Meinolf Weber]

Hello Martin,

Of course it is dangerous to use them. These kind of tools does NOT know
whats going on in windows operating system. They just scan the registry and
pops up with there "feelings". If you use them and your system will not startup
any longer it is YOUR fault not there's and REALLY NOT from MICROSOFT.

In your car you also do not remove thinks from the engine, because somebody
told you, OR DO YOU??????

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.
** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm

 

[Martin]

Thanks for your thoughts. It sounds as tho' you are talking about the
registry cleaners etc. What I am especially interested in is the
applications like East-Tec. They say that it will keep what you do on your
PC to yourself and protect your privacy. Do you know about these?
Thanks.

 

[HeyBub]

Thanks for your thoughts. It sounds as tho' you are talking about the
registry cleaners etc. What I am especially interested in is the
applications like East-Tec. They say that it will keep what you do
on your PC to yourself and protect your privacy. Do you know about
these?
Thanks.

East-tec seems to be a file eraser. I'll bet what it does is over-write
files with garbage to prevent forensic experts from determining what was
there, coupled with some degree of automation.

File erasers are a dime a dozen and lots of them are free.

If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to hide.

If you DO have something to hide, there are only two ways to do so:

1. Strong encryption - but you CAN be forced to reveal the encryption key,
or
2. Physically destroying the hard drive (fire, armor-piercing bullet, band
saw, etc.)

 

[the wharf rat]

1. Strong encryption - but you CAN be forced to reveal the encryption key,

No. You can't be forced to reveal a key because it's covered by
the 5th Amendment. Physical torture works on some people though.

BTW, since you have nothing to hide can I get a copy of your
inbox? I'd like to print it out and tack it up on telephone poles.

 

[Martin]

For Hey Bub
Thanks.
I have only been using this application because it seems to clean clutter
and drastically improves the space on my hard drive (ie several GBs). I
presume this is because it destroys endless backups (or images). In the past
(on XP) I could remove old backups from System Restore, but I can't in Vista.
In Vista they seem to take up so much memory! All I really want to keep are
the recent backups.
Martin

 

[Martin]

For The wharf Rat
LOL!!! Thanks. What I really need is a SAFE way to get rid of alot of
clutter.

 

[John E]

For The wharf Rat
LOL!!! Thanks. What I really need is a SAFE way to get rid of alot of
clutter.

Try this one: http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/

Free and works with Vista and vista x64 (mostly).

John

 

[Mark R. Cusumano]

No. You can't be forced to reveal a key because it's covered by
the 5th Amendment. Physical torture works on some people though.

Actually there is a case currently in the courts where the FBI is trying to
compel someone to reveal their encryption key. The argument basically
states that since the government can subpoena someone to surrender a
physical key they should be able to issue the same type of subpoena for a
memorized key. Currently if you have your key written down and locked in a
safe you can be compelled to surrender the document. The question becomes
is the court willing to call a memorized key testimony or evidence.

 

[Daze N. Knights]

Try the Delete key. ;-)

 

[Martin]

For HeyBub and Others
Thanks for all your comments, I have learnt from them, but oriinally my main
concern was ARE THEY SAFE to use? I mean will they harm my PC! (not me)
Thanks

 

[C.B.]

For HeyBub and Others
Thanks for all your comments, I have learnt from them, but oriinally my
main
concern was ARE THEY SAFE to use? I mean will they harm my PC! (not me)
Thanks

Whether it does or does not harm your system will depend upon which
files you choose to overwrite or which files it will automatically
overwrite.
Personally, I find hitting Delete to be sufficient. As was stated by
others, you can always encrypt your data. Since you are using Vista Ultimate
why don't you encrypt your whole hard drive. Then, as Mr. Cusumano stated,
you and only you can provide the encryption key to unlock the hard drive. If
I decide to encrypt my system at some time in the future I can guarantee you
it would be a cold day in Hell before I gave up my encryption key.
Some people will tell you that if you reformat your hard drive there is
no way to recover data from your hard drive. This is incorrect.

C.B.

 

[Martin]

CB Thanks for your comments. Please see my new thread on how to password
individual files/folders.
Thanks again.

 

[Martin]

Another reply for CB
You mention to encrypt the whole drive (using Vista Ultimatre) - is that the
same as Bitlocker Drive Encryption?