East-Tec DisposeSecure 5.0

Overview

East-Tec DisposeSecure is a powerful secure deletion utility that facilitates the process of erasing all traces of unwanted files from a hard drive. By utilizing the most advanced data destruction techniques that adhere to the latest Department of Defense technical standards this software assists in the complete removal of specified data, thereby helping the user prevent any possibility of future recovery by a third-party.

Installation

Despite its usefulness, East-Tec DisposeSecure comes in a compact, easy-to-install package of a little more than 6 MB. You'll have the choice to install Bootable Media Creator, Network Sanitizing or both. Network Sanitizing will be more useful to network administrators, so regular users can skip installing this component. It is compatible with a plethora of operating systems, including Windows NT, 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista, and 7, as well as any distribution of Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, and UNIX.

Interface

The East-Tec DisposeSecure user interface is surprisingly primitive, resembling the appearance of an old-fashioned MS-DOS command screen. However, its simplicity makes it a great choice for computer users of all skill levels, as changing destruction methods and viewing deletion statistics is as easy as following on-screen prompts. Users can press F1 to quickly access a help menu if they're having trouble, or simply press Alt + X to abort the deletion process.

Pros

• Bootable Media Creator allows you to make a bootable disc, USB drive, or Floppy, or create a bootable ISO image for future use. These will be used to securely destroy the targeted data from your computer(s), including external drives or partitions.

• Can quickly clean one computer, an entire network, or a specified set of files

• Adequate help documentation includes a searchable knowledgebase and automatic warnings/explanations that make it easy to become acquainted with the software's functionality

• Lets you choose from several predefined destruction methods, or you can create your own custom security settings using a variety of options

• Eliminates data so that it cannot be recovered using even the most advanced recovery methods

• Despite offering an array of advanced features the program has a surprisingly self-explanatory interface

• Expedites the process of deleting files across a network of multiple computers simultaneously

Cons

• Novice users may need to read some of the included help documentation to gain a thorough understanding of which deletion methods to use based on their situation

• There's no option for USB devices, as you can't deploy DisposeSecure on a bootable USB drive - we hope that future version updates will address this issue. Update: with version 5 you can now create bootable USB sticks and wipe external drives or partitions directly from Windows.

Alternatives

East-Tec DisposeSecure is certainly not unique in its abilities, as there are many other secure deletion programs to choose from, including Acronis Drive Cleanser, File Shredder, Eraser, Disk Wipe, WipeFile, DriveScrubber, SDelete, and Hardwipe. However, East-Tec DisposeSecure is one of the few applications that lets you create bootable discs, which can be used to deploy the program on, and begin cleaning hard drives that have corrupted operating systems. Also, none of the aforementioned software provide the same level of wiping options as DisposeSecure.

Conclusion

If you're trying to find a guaranteed way to permanently remove data from your computer without any possibility of recovery, East-Tec DisposeSecure is definitely a viable option. With multiple destruction methods to choose from, a comprehensive help file, and industry-proven reliability, this software is amongst the most highly-rated file deletion utilities available.