Multiple Programs – ERASER.EXE

As you might guess, there are a number of files called eraser.exe. These files promise to go beyond deleting a file to complete erasing it. This affords some security in making it less likely that the file could be retrieved. A popular example of this sort of program can be found at http://www.tolvanen.com/eraser/.

Eraser.exe is also a Microsoft utility (about 19k in size residing in your Windows folder). This utility can be used to completely uninstall Microsoft Office 97 when a normal uninstall fails. Some have mentioned using it with Office 2000 as well.

Eraser.exe also installs with an open source program of the same name by Sami Tolvanen and Garret Trant. This program promises to completely remove sensitive data from your hard drive by overwriting it several times with carefully selected patterns. Versions are available for Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Windows 2003 Server and DOS. More information can be found at http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/.

Safe

Microsoft