• Fast (Zero Pattern) - Overwrites all addressable locations of the file with zeros before deleting. The number of passes is chosen by the user (up to 99 passes).
• Pseudo Random Data – Overwrites all addressable locations of the file with random characters before deleting. The number of passes is chosen by the user (up to 99 passes).
• US DOD 5220.22-M (8-306. C) - Overwrites all addressable locations of the file with a single character before deleting. The character is chosen by the user. The number of passes is chosen by user (up to 99 passes).
• US DOD 5220.22-M (8-306. E) – Overwrites all addressable locations with a character, its complement, then a random character before deleting. The initial character is chosen by the user. This is a 3 pass wipe.
• Gutmann Method (Most Secure) – Goes far beyond government requirements! The file is overwritten with a special sequence of characters, as designed by Peter Gutmann, before deleting. This is a 35 pass wipe.

What makes a directory junction so dangerous? An attacker can set a directory junction to trap an unsuspecting user into potentially deleting his entire operating system, or other equally important directory or folder. How? If a user (or program ran by the user) issues a destructive recursive command, such as rd /s (to remove directory recursively including sub folders) and that directory contains a directory junction to another directory, for example your c:/windows/system32 directory, you will unknowingly destroy your entire system folder!

If you use a file shredder, internet history eraser, or any other type of program that makes destructive recursive calls then you should make sure you know if that program can detect and avoid directory junctions.

AceErase automatically detects and avoids traversing through directory junctions. Shred safely with AceErase!

AceErase® Pro additionally provides a convenient "Shred Your Tracks" feature that permanently erases your PC and Internet activity allowing you to keep your working and Internet browsing habits private.

We use secure coding techniques and believe that it is the responsibility of every application that makes destructive changes recursively through a directory structure to recognize directory junctions and avoid traversing through them.

Please read our other FAQ article (Q: What are directory junctions and how can they be so dangerous?) to learn why directory junctions can potentially harm your system.