File Shredders

When files are deleted (and even emptied from the recycle bin or trash) off your hard drive, they could still potentially be recoverable if someone were to gain access to it. These apps ensure that data is truly wiped from the storage device from whence it came.

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  1. BleachBit icon
     815 likes

    Erase unnecessary files like cache and cookies, maintain privacy, and optimize disk space on Linux and Windows. Supports various applications and uses.

    • System Cleaner
    • FreeOpen Source
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Blackberry
    • PortableApps.com
    BleachBit 1.9.3 on Windows 10 showing Firefox preview
    Best alternatives are CCleaner iconCCleanerandGlary Utilities iconGlary Utilities146 alternatives
  2. Glary Utilities icon
     394 likes

    Optimize your Windows PC with powerful tools to fix, speed up, and maintain systems, offering one-click registry cleaning, privacy protection, and disk cleanup.

    Glary Utilities screenshot 1
    Best alternatives are BleachBit iconBleachBit229 alternatives
  3. Eraser icon
     151 likes

    Eraser is an advanced security tool (for Windows), which allows you to completely remove sensitive data from your hard drive by overwriting it several times with carefully selected patterns.

    Eraser screenshot 1
    Best alternatives are BleachBit iconBleachBitandDiskGenius iconDiskGenius46 alternatives
  4. AVG PC TuneUp icon
     150 likes

    Boosts PC performance by enhancing speed, freeing space, and reducing crashes using Turbo Mode, Program Deactivator, and battery-saving features.

    Dashboard
    Best alternatives are BleachBit iconBleachBitandCCleaner iconCCleaner170 alternatives
  5. Remove stubborn programs, leftover files, registry entries, Windows apps, and browser extensions with tools for disk cleanup, system management, and optimization.

    HiBit Uninstaller screenshot 1
  6. Dariks Boot and Nuke ("DBAN") is a self-contained boot disk that securely wipes the hard disks of most computers. DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency...

    Discontinued
    DBAN Installer
    Best alternatives are Eraser iconEraserand
    ABAN
    35 alternatives
  7. Clean Master icon
     124 likes

    Clean Master for PC is a cleaner of junk files and a computer optimizer. The desktop tool removes invalid, temporary, and cache files that tend to slow down a device. It targets over 500 applications and cleans software junk left behind.

    Warning
    Clean Master for Windows
    Best alternatives are BleachBit iconBleachBitandCCleaner iconCCleaner146 alternatives
  8. PASPAS icon
     10 likes

    Blazing-fast, all-in-one system optimizer. Improve your computer's efficiency with powerful cleaning and tuning tools.

    PASPAS screenshot 1
    Best alternatives are BleachBit iconBleachBit137 alternatives
  9. Permadelete icon
     9 likes

    Permadelete is a free and open source file shredder, it deletes your files beyond recovery. It's made to be beautiful and easy to use and yet powerful.

    Permadelete screenshot 1
    Best alternatives are Eraser iconEraserandDiskGenius iconDiskGenius45 alternatives
  10. Enhances PC performance and security by fixing system issues, removing background processes, and managing vulnerabilities for optimal efficiency.

    Outbyte PC Repair screenshot 1
    Best alternatives are BleachBit iconBleachBitandCCleaner iconCCleaner34 alternatives
  11.  6 likes

    ABAN is a boot CD/USB stick for easily and securely wiping all the disks in a machine. Boot disks are available for both 32-bit and 64-bit machines. As a boot disk, it doesn't care what OS is on the machine (or if there is any OS at all).

    Disk wipe in progress
  12. DIY software for permanent file wiping and data security, removes sensitive files, browsing history, and app traces from multiple storage devices.

    Stellar File Eraser screenshot 1
    Best alternatives are Eraser iconEraserandDiskGenius iconDiskGenius38 alternatives
  13. This program offers the possibility to finally delete files and/or folders (no recovery possible). The program also can overwrite the free space on a drive, which means, that already deleted files cannot be restored, too.

    Alternate File Shredder screenshot 1
    Best alternatives are Eraser iconEraserandDiskGenius iconDiskGenius41 alternatives
  14. MacKeeper icon
     3 likes

    System utility combining antivirus, ad removal, cleanup, and performance optimization tools to enhance Mac security and speed, all from one streamlined interface.

    MacKeeper screenshot 1
    Best alternatives are BleachBit iconBleachBit178 alternatives
  15. Wasted icon
     3 likes

    Lock a device and wipe its data on emergency.

    Wasted screenshot 1
    Wasted screenshot 2
    Wasted screenshot 3
    Best alternatives are Duress iconDuress3 alternatives