File Shredder (About Computer File Shredder)

A file shredder was developed to perform similar functions as that of a paper file shredder. Not only does it dispose of the file, it also eliminates even the most secure file shredder software, in which anything that has reference to the shredded file is also wiped out in its history and directory securely and permanently. There are so many people who think that the deletion of a file and emptying it right into the recycle bin means that it is already gone for good - it is still actually contained in the hard disk. The only difference is that the file no longer comes with its original name making the process of retrieving it very difficult to do. Yet the point remains that the files are still there and it is still retrievable.

One who knows how to look into computer files could very well detect the location of the data on the hard disk and recover it quite easily. This actually works once the data concerned has other files overwriting it, which may not occur for a longer time period. Even if the data is already overwritten, there is still information that remains underneath the surface layer can. With the usage of specially designed equipment, the data can still be retrieved by any avid computer user.

In essence, a file shredder does the trick of overwriting the file. The file may be written over thrice, even in cases when it is extremely sensitive. The file considered for reference is then taken right from the directory area still by means of overwriting. There are also times when defragmentation takes place on certain areas in the hard disk where sensitive or confidential information was stored, then it will be more difficult to make use of a file shredder, thus recovery of information is impossible.

Whenever confidential or sensitive personal information is saved in a file, it is always necessary to use a file shredder especially if the computer is going to be sold or donated for some purpose. Recent studies also show that a very huge proportion of used and donated computers still have personal files that are very sensitive in nature. This is true in spite of the fact that these files have already been erased or deleted prior to being sold or donated.

The process of file wiping is another name for file shredding, and is primarily used to enforce confidentiality purposes. Because With copyright and trade item piracy present very serious concerns, many trade espionage elements rely on stealing their competitors' trade secrets to garner as much profit from the information that have been gathered. File shredding is just a part of the whole security plan. By taking security measures to prevent the theft of confidential and sensitive information, crimes such as identity theft or computer file theft are stopped. This can be done by making sure that the files that contain these information are all encrypted. Keeping the encryption key security in check is also another important security measure as well.

There are a lot of file shredder applications that you can use. These usually come with user-friendly interfaces with instructions on how to easily shred files. With these file shredder applications, all you need to do is choose the file you like to delete, select the options for deleting the file and that's just about it. In addition, more advanced file shredder applications have varied shredding algorithms as well, which ensure more secure wipeout of files. However, this application may take longer operating time. It is always best to find a file shredder that best suits your preferences and needs.

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Computer File Shredder Basics

A computer file shredder was created for the same purpose as the paper file shredder. The intent is to complete obliterate not only the file, but in the most secure file shredder software, any reference to the file that was shredded is also shredded in the history and in the directory. Many people do not realize that a computer file that is deleted doesn't go away, it still resides on the hard drive or disc--it just doesn't have a name any more, so there is no easy way to access it.

Someone who knows how to search computer files can fairly easily determine where the data is on the drive and recover the information. This works until the data is written over with other files, which may not happen for a long time. Even if the information is over written once, in many cases, the information underneath the top layer can be accessed, using sophisticated equipment.

In essence, what a file shredder does is to overwrite the file. If the material is extremely sensitive, the file may be overwritten 3 times. Then the reference to the file is removed from the directory area, using the same means--overwriting.

If defragmentation is used on the areas in the drive where sensitive information was stored, this will mean that it's even more difficult to use a file shredder and be certain that the information is truly unrecoverable.

Any time sensitive business or personal information is stored in a computer file, there is always the need to use a file shredder if the computer is sold or donated. A recent study found that a large proportion of donated used computers contain personal information and files on the computer, even when the files have been deleted.

Shredding, also known as file wiping is commonly used for reasons of confidentiality. Copyright and trade item piracy is a serious business. Trade espionage relies on being able to steal secrets about the business of a competitor in order to profit from such information. File shredding or file wiping is just one part of the entire security program. Prevention of theft of sensitive documents and electronic files helps stop computer file theft. Making sure sensitive information is stored in encrypted files and maintaining the security of the encryption key is another important file security effort.

If you want to be absolutely positive sensitive information can never be recovered, methods such as destroying the data with acid, or by incinerating the disc. Another method is known as degaussing which is a methods of decreasing or eliminating an unwanted magnet field. This is accomplished by the use of an electromagnetic coil and was used as a method of protecting military ships against magnetic mines.

In most instances a triple overwriting in order to shred information in a file is overkill for the home computer owner. Overwriting a large file, such as one of 100MB or larger can take an tremendous amount of time, and is not warranted in most cases for the small business person, or individual for home security.

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Clean Up Computer Files to Increase PC Speed

One of the most underused applications in Windows XP is Disk Cleanup. This is a wonderful tool to clean up computer files and cut down on computer slowdown. Many spend wasted time trying their best to locate and delete individual files that they believe are causing computer slowdown. Regardless of how you perform this action, you are performing a vital task of cleaning up an excess of unnecessary computer files. This excess can cause major performance slowdown. Disk Cleanup gives you full file access and automatically determines which files are ready for deletion. This takes out a lot of the guess work and saves you loads of maintenance time..

Let's take a look at what files can cause computer slowdown and how to use Disk Cleanup. To access Disk Cleanup follow the instructions below:

In Windows XP

1. Click "Start"

2. Move the cursor over or click "All Programs"

3. Move the cursor over or click "Accessories"

4. Move the cursor over to or click "System Tools"

5. Click "Disk Cleanup".

This action will bring you to the Disk Cleanup window. The application will automatically start determining how much free space will be available if you choose to perform a clean up. You will have the option of choosing what files you would like deleted. There are 3 areas that are highly recommended for deletion. These are temporary internet files, downloaded program files, and recycle bin files. These 3 areas will more than likely hold the majority information to be deleted and cause computer slowdown. Here is a brief description of each.

Windows Temporary Internet files--this folder is also known as the Web Cache. It contains your temporary internet files .The cache is the primary folder that holds your previously viewed web pages, images, downloads. Excess cache files can cause computer slowdown, interfere with RAM usage, and cause errors.

The Recycle Bin--this is also a part of the Windows system that holds files that are marked for deletion. This can hold anything you have deleted within a given period of time. Once the recycle bin is emptied, the files can no longer be recovered by conventional methods.

Downloaded Program Files--these files can be installers, java applets and Active X controls. Depending on the amount of applications you have downloaded this folder size can vary from small to rather large.

These three sections comprised that largest part of your internet history and previously deleted files. You should clean up computer files in these areas by clicking the desired check box and clicking the "OK" button. If you don't want to erase all these files at once, choose the "View File" option and clean up computer files individually. Remember don't limit clean up to these three areas, use caution but explore what other files can be removed to cut down on computer slowdown.

The "More Options" tab located at the top of the Disk Cleanup window gives further clean up options. This allows us to clean up computer files in three more vital areas. However, if you want to clean up computer files in these areas, proceed with caution. One of the areas is Windows Components. These files are applications and accessories that you rarely use or older versions of some updated applications. Another area is System Restore. This Disk Cleanup options allows you to remove previous restore points. It is recommend that you set your system restore point to a desired date before cleaning up old restore points. However it is important to cleanup computer files in this area to free up disk space and eliminate computer slowdown. The final area is your installed programs. Disk Cleanup allows you to side step going into the control panel to add/remove programs.

Although, Disk Cleanup offers a lot of management options for excess files in vital areas. It doesn't give you complete control over your internet history. It removes you web cache. However, it may not delete all your cookies or parts of your web browser history. Cookies are small files that are installed into your browser history. So, they rarely can cause computer slowdown. Nevertheless, it is recommended to clear cookie history files because in some case a cookie can be a precursor to spyware. If you would like delete your cookie history files, you can easily do this by clearing your cookie history folder. Depending on your choice of browser, the instructions may vary. Check out Delete Cookies in 4 Step for instructions.

Another major area you should clean is your registry. This causes a lot of computer slowdown due to excess files. Its a must to clean the registry in order to have efficient and smooth computer performance. You registry holds all the information from installations, updates, and upgrades. This can grow to an enormous size if you use a daily update feature for software such as antivirus programs. You can easily edit your registry by typing "regedit" into the Windows Run Command Line. This will allow you to delete individual registry lines. However, this action is highly dangerous if you are not precise. If you make a mistake, you may seriously damage your PC and increase computer slowdown. So, proceed with caution or get a registry cleaner tool. Now that your removed unnecessary files, try to free up more resources to increase PC speed. The tutorial 4 Ways to Increase PC Speed provides more easy to follow techniques to stop computer slowdown and improve overall performance.

For more information on how to speed up your computer, visit http://www.delete-computer-history.com/how-to-speed-up-my-computer.html

10 Ways To Protect Your Computer While You Use File Sharing Programs

In these times when we often talk about the security of our national borders, perhaps more thought should be given to something that labors under a more constant threat of assault: your computer.
As a computer technician, my opinion of most file sharing programs is pretty low. Most of them have few computer security options, if any. In addition to that, many computer security companies (including Symantec, makers of the famous Norton Antivirus software) have confirmed that many P2P programs contain spyware. And if you have a broadband connection, you're even more vulnerable than dial-up users to download a virus.
However, I feel I should provide a few tips to those brave souls who continue to use file sharing programs, despite the ever-present possibility of downloading a virus that can remotely control your computer, transfer your personal information to a third party, or just delete your entire hard drive.
Here's a list of the 10 best tips you can follow to reduce your chances of getting a virus while you engage in 'traditional' file sharing. I'll break the tips into 3 sections: what to do before you download the file sharing software, what to do after you download it, and what to do during your use of the software.
Of course, it's impossible to eliminate any possibility of getting a virus. But if you take a few precautionary steps, you might avoid some major problems.
BEFORE you download any file sharing software...
10 - Use anti-virus software AND anti-spyware programs
Hackers are getting smarter (and sneakier), and some viruses can go undetected by the best programs. That's why it's important to have multi-level support with 2 or more security programs. You'll be covered if you have a good anti-virus program, a good adware program, and a good firewall program, in addition to whatever firewall protection your operating system came with. Run the programs weekly, whether you notice a problem or not! If you use more than 1 lock on your front door, use more than 1 for your PC.
9 - Back up your computer BEFORE installing any new software
Let's assume that the software you plan to install has more viruses than an outhouse! If you need to restore your computer to its pre-software settings (after you delete the program, of course), then you should back up your system BEFORE you download any risky software. If you have Windows XP, use the System Restore ability to make the restoration a little easier.
8 - Review the software AND its manufacturer before you download
There are several anti-virus programs that actually contain spyware. The main reason people download software like that is because they never bothered to investigate the software maker or the program itself before they downloaded it. Look for reviews of the software and the company behind it, and ask several questions: does the software have advanced security settings, are there satisfied users who give it high ratings, has it won any industry awards, can it be completely uninstalled when you choose to delete it? These questions should be answered long before you even consider downloading a particular program. (see #6 and #7)
7 - Download all of your software from a reputable source
You can avoid a lot of heartache by choosing to download your software from a website with a great reputation. Websites like Download.com and Tucows.com both list programs that have been thoroughly tested before they're made available to the public, as well as useful reviews and recommendations. Like a grade school bully, you should let the nerds do your homework if you're unwilling to do it yourself.
AFTER you download the file sharing software...
6 - Modify file sharing program settings for maximum security
It's astonishing that so few users of file sharing software ever bother to review the software settings. NEVER use the default software settings because they're usually designed for the benefit of the community - you often get the lowest security, the slowest download speed, and the fewest search options. Make sure you alter these settings for maximum security. If the software doesn't allow you to do that, don't use it! Downloading P2P software is like inviting strangers into your house - you hope they'll do the right thing, but it's up to you to make sure they don't do the wrong thing.
5 - Avoid programs and other executable files when file sharing
Although it's tempting to download many types of computer programs (especially .EXE files), you must be careful. They can easily be modified to contain viruses. Downloading files that are popular (i.e. files that have been downloaded many times, or files that are on a "popular files" list) can also present problems because some viruses are programmed to change its title to that of a more popular file. For example, a hacker can easily rename a virus from "harddrivekiller.exe" to something more desirable, something like "PhotoShopInstaller.exe." Don't allow your greed to override your common sense (see #2 and #3).
4 - Look for adult and game files elsewhere
Adult files (i.e. files with explicit sexual content) and PC game files are the 2 most likely types of files to contain viruses, adware and spyware. Downloading them ANYWHERE on the internet is somewhat risky if you're not familiar with the source website, but trying to get them through P2P networks is like playing Russian roulette - you might escape the bullet for a while, but you'll get it eventually.
DURING your use of the file sharing software...
3 - Look at the file size and type when you download a file
P2P programs are full of files with inaccurate (and intentionally misleading) file names. But you can often spot a fake file by making sure the file has a corresponding file size and type. For example, most songs (not albums) and books shouldn't be greater than 10 megabytes (MBs) in size, and they shouldn't be executable files, either. If you want to download a copy of the Bible, but it's 15MB in size and it has a .EXE file extension, it's probably a virus, not a book.
2 - Read user reviews of each download file
Most people don't realize that you can read user reviews of a file before you download it. There's no single file sharing protocol, so I can't tell you exactly where you should look. But look for any links that say "User Comments," "File Reviews" or something similar, and read what others are saying about the downloaded file. They can warn you if the file is corrupt, if it has an inaccurate file title or description, contains a virus, etc.
1 - Be observant about your computer and its behavior
Has your computer been acting 'weird' lately? Has a new folder or icon appeared on your desktop? Are you unable to access or delete certain folders? These symptoms could be the first signs that you have a virus. Be grateful that you caught the warning signs, and act quickly! Delete the file, run your anti-virus and adware software, and restore your pre-download computer settings. Hopefully, you followed tips #10 and #9 before you started to experience a problem.
I hope these tips are useful to you. As I stated earlier, you'll always be vulnerable to many types of viruses when you engage in traditional file sharing, regardless of how careful you are. But, if you follow these tips, you can significantly reduce any problems you might experience. Happy file hunting!

Ken Walker is a certified computer technician who specializes in file sharing and computer security. He's the author of the "Next Level File Sharing List" - the most comprehensive collection of file sharing websites, tips and tricks - available exclusively at [http://www.NextLevelFileSharing.com]. He is based in New York City.

Computer File Management Tips For Entrepreneurs - A Place For Everything & Everything in Its Place!

Is your email inbox a mess?
I learn a lot about a person from a glance at their email inbox or file management system. I recently worked with a client whose email inbox was, quite frankly, a mess. I define 'mess' by one or both of the following: too many unread messages and/or messages that are never deleted. If you fall into either of these categories, you are not alone. However, failure to delete your emails or at least create and move them into folders puts you at risk of missing out on potential new business. Worse, if you allow your messages to pile up without reviewing them, a lack of response may signal to existing customers that you've forgotten about them. It is not uncommon to receive 100 or more emails in your inbox in the course of a day's work.
Here are two simple rules that can help you manage the high volume of emails.
RULE #1: Read the email once and file, flag, delete or reply.

RULE #2: Delete emails that do not contain important information.
Are you bewildered about file management?
It's equally important to keep the files on your computer organized and up-to-date. The goal of computer file management is to ensure that you can always find what you're looking for, even years after its creation. What good is all your hard work if you can't find where you stored your file?
These file management tips will help you keep your files accessible:
1. Organize by file types. Make applications easier to find by creating a folder called Program Files on your drive and keeping all your applications there. For instance, the executables for Word, PowerPoint, QuickBooks, and WinZip should all reside in the Program Files folder.
2. One place for all. Place all documents in the My Documents folder and nowhere else. Whether it's a spreadsheet, a business letter or a PowerPoint presentation, make sure to save it there. This will make it easier to locate your files and to run backups.
3. Create folders in My Documents. Having trouble naming your folders? Envision your folders as the drawers of your computer's filing cabinet. Use plain language to name your folders. Otherwise, you may be looking at this list of folders in the future and wonder what 'rtm' or some other invented abbreviation means. Create file and folder names that are meaningful to you. Keep business and personal folders separate.
4. Nest folders within folders. Create other folders within these main folders as need arises. For instance, a folder called 'invoices' might contain folders called "2007", and "2008". A folder named for a client might include the folders "customerdata" and "correspondence". The goal is to have every file in a folder rather than having a bunch of orphan files listed.
5. Follow the file naming conventions. Do not use spaces in file names, keep file names under 27 characters, and use all lower case. So a file named for a client should be "susansmith" rather than "Susan Smith". If you break any of these rules, be consistent about it.
6. Be specific. Give files logical, specific names and include dates in file names if possible. The goal when naming files is to be able to tell what the file is about without having to open it and review. So if the document is a letter to a customer reminding him that payment is overdue, call it "overdue091207" rather than "letter". This allows you to know to whom the letter was written without opening it.
7. File as you go. The best time to file a document is when you first create it. So get in the habit of using the "Save As" dialogue box to file and name your document. Put it in the right place in the first place.
8. Order your files for your convenience. If there are folders or files that you use a lot, force them to the top of the file list by renaming them with a "1" or an "aa" at the beginning of the file name.
9. Clear out your files regularly. Sometimes what's old is obvious as in the example of the folder named "invoices" above. If it's not, keep your folders uncluttered by clearing out the old files. Do NOT delete business related files unless you are absolutely certain that you will never need the file again. Instead, in your main collection of folders in

Documents, create a folder called "old" or "inactive" and move old files into it as you come across them.
10. Back up your files regularly. Whether you're copying your files onto a flash drive, a disk, or an online storage site, it's important to set up and follow a regular back up regimen. Protect your files from loss due to viruses, hackers, and damage.
Save often but know where you're saving. There is a place for everything and everything in its place.







Digital Coach, Robin Matuk addresses the needs of entrepreneurs and business owners looking to maximize the use of the Internet to build, manage, and grow their businesses. Check out her website My Digital Coach [http://www.mydigitalcoach.com] and her blog Creating with Impact [http://robinmatuk.typepad.com].

Managing Files in Your Computer (Windows PC)

Have you ever worked for hours on a document, saved it to your computer and the next time you went to use the file you could not find it? Hopefully this article will help you and everyone else who uses your computer, save files in an orderly manner; then you will always be able to find any file you need, quickly and efficiently.
How to Create Folders
All PCs have an icon or section on the computer labelled My Documents. This is where you should be saving all of the files you create. Think of this area as a great big filling cabinet. Instead of piling everything in the cabinet higgledy piggledy, as tempting as it might be, you need to set up sections within the filling cabinet for the different type of files you might be saving. Each section of the filing cabinet is called a Folder
If several people are using the same computer, begin by assigning a Major Folder to each person. For example:
Mr. Smith or Dad's Files


Mrs. Smith or Mom's Files
Junior Smith or Junior's Files
Jane Smith or Jane's Files
You can give the Folder any name you wish, to make these Major folders, follow these commands.
1. Click on Start (green button at the bottom left corner of your screen).
2. Click on My Documents.
3. On the top right corner of the My Document Screen click on File.
4. Immediately under File, a white section comes up and click on New.
5. To the right of the word New click on Folder.
6. A Folder will appear in the white area of the screen saying New Folder and it will be shaded blue, immediately type in the name of the folder Dad's Files.
7. If the Folder turns to white before you type in the name, simply click on the word New Folder, then click on File, scroll down and click on Rename, once again it will turn to blue and you can type in the name of the new folder.
8. Continue making and naming as many Folders as you need for each person or section you wish to create.
Within each major Folder you can create other sections or Sub Folders, to help you keep each person's files organized. For example:
Dad's Files


---------Business
------------------Documents
------------------Letters
---------------------------Company A
---------------------------Company B
---------------------------Company C
------------------Faxes
------------------Estimates
------------------Insurance
------------------Resumes
------------------Miscellaneous
---------Household Accounting Records
---------Personal
---------Friends
Moms Files
---------Letters
---------Special e-mails
---------Household Documents
---------Friends
Junior's Files


---------School work
---------Friends
Jane's Files
---------School work
---------Friends
How to Save Your Files to Your Folders
1. Once you have your folders set up, you can begin to save your new files into the correct Folder.
2. Start by opening a new file in your Word program.
3. Click on File in the top left corner and scroll down to save as.
4. A new screen will appear with the words SAVE AS in the blue shaded area, click on My Documents on the left side of this screen.
5. A list of each of your major folders will appear. Click on the Major Folder you wish to use.
6. The screen will open and list each of the Sub Folders you have made.
7. Once you have reached the Sub Folder you wish to save your document in, type in the name of your document in the bottom of the screen labelled File Name.
If you are saving pictures on your computer, it is a good idea to set up folders for your pictures in the same manner as your documents. Set up your Folders in the same manner in the My Pictures section of your computer.
File and Folder Tasks
In the My Document screen (in the blue area on the left side) you will see a section labelled File and Folder Tasks. Click on the small white circle beside the name and a list of tasks will appear or disappear. You can use this section to accomplish the following tasks
1. Rename a folder - if you wish to give the folder a new name, just click on the folder, then click on this command. The folder will turn blue and you can type in the new name and press enter.
2. Move this folder.
a. Highlight the file by clicking on the file Name.
b. Click on the command Move this file.
c. A new screen will appear called Move Items.
d. Scroll through this screen until you find the Folder you wish to move the file into.
e. Click on this:Folder and the Move button at the bottom of this screen.
3. Copy this folder - follow the same commands as to move the folder, instead of a screen saying Move Items you will get a screen saying Copy Items
4. Publish this folder to the web - click on the Folder you wish to publish, then the Publish this folder to the Web, a Web Publishing Wizard will appear, follow the directions that come up.
5. Share this folder - once again, click on the Folder and the command Share this folder and follow the instructions that appear.
6. Email this folder - click on the Folder or File and the command Email this folder, an e-mail will appear with the Files or Folders attached, send the e-mail to the person you wish to send it to.
7. Delete this folder - click on the File or Folder and the command Delete this folder. A window will appear asking you if you wish to delete the file or folder. Click on Yes and the file will be sent to your Recycle Bin. If you make a mistake and accidentally delete the wrong file, you can always go to the Recycle Bin and move it back to its correct location. This only works if you have not emptied your Recycle Bin .
Lost Files
If you have previously saved a file to your computer and wish to find it, try the following commands.
1. Go to the My Document screen.
2. Click on the File command.
3. Scroll down to the Search command.
4. Follow the directions on the left side of the screen that appears. You can type in the name of the file, or a phrase that has been used in the file. By clicking on the sections Look In you can tell the computer to look in one specific area or the complete computer by clicking on the Local Hard Drive.
5. Once the computer has found your file or files with the information you requested, a list of possible files will appear on the right side of the screen.
6. Click on the correct file and it will open for you.
7. I suggest you save the file in a Folder where you will quickly find it the next time.
Details of Files
If you wish to find out how big a file is, when it was last used, or which program was used to create it, follow the following commands.
1. Go to the My Document screen.
2. Click on the View command at the top of the screen.
3. Scroll down to the Details command.
4. The screen will give you the Name, Size, Type and Date Modified of each file in the folder you are displaying.
Summary
It will only take you a few minutes to set up your filling system on your computer but it will save you hours of scrolling through many files looking for the one elusive file you need. As the old proverb goes "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cures". I also suggest that when you are working on a file, that you take time to use the save command (found under File) every five minutes. Then if your computer suddenly decides to have a fit (crash), at least you will be able to retrieve the bulk of your work.
I wish you many happy hours of computing and less frustration as you quickly locate all your files when you need them. Enjoy your computer and keep learning how to make it work for you.







Founder of http://www.MacVideoTraining.com & http://www.SwitchingToMac.com once you go Mac - you never go back