IDEA: Add CCleaner secure file delete to Explore/Opus context menu

[dcwul62]

CCleaner is a wonderful tool with a lot of options.
One thing, regularly being asked for, is missing though.

-Select files and/or folder
-Have a context menu item to "Secure delete" the selected items.

On their site http://www.piriform.com/docs/ccleaner/advanced-usage/command-line-parameters
Pirifiform does have a command:  CCleaner.exe /DELETE "path_to_file(s)" /METHOD "0-3"

On that basis, I wonder whether it would be possible to develop a CCleaner context menu/button deleting selected items.

Haven't found a solution on Internet sofar.
I think it would make quite some folks happy.
Secure Delete files/folder now requires 3rd party tools.

But then again, maybe it is not possible at all...

Nothing wrong with asking... 

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[MilesAhead]

This looks like it does the job.

Note: The download link is just above the Online File Sharing ad, before you get to the comments section.

[dcwul62]

I am not sure. I think the tool in the link is about adding/removing context menu items etc.
However, CCleaner has -no possibilities-  of a context menu to secure-delete files yet.
Maybe one day in future, but not right now.
i.e. it would require some programming (via autohotkey?) to accomplish this.
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[MilesAhead]

You add the command line you supplied to the context menu of Explorer using the tool.

I don't think you will find many programmers willing to write a knock off utility to delete and scrub files so that they cannot be undeleted.  Nobody wants to be liable for irreparable damage to somebody's data.

I suggest trying it on dummy data until you are very confident it works as intended.

[dcwul62]

Point is that in the commandline users have to define exactly what, i.e. name of files, name of folders, should be securely deleted.
Meaning that the names of files/folders are 'fixed' in advance.
Whereas my idea is to select files/folders (can be anything) and that these files/folders are 'passed on' to ccleaner to be erased.
As said, currently one has to use 3rd party tools (fileshredders) having context menu support.
Well, anyway.. it was/is a suggestion only.
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[c.gingerich]

I am looking into the context menu, but what if I made an app that you can drag and drop files/folders and then pass them to CCLeaner.exe?

[dcwul62]

Hang on, let me get back to you soonest.
I am investigating some other things that I am just remembering/realizing.
Reverting... 
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[MilesAhead]

Point is that in the commandline users have to define exactly what, i.e. name of files, name of folders, should be securely deleted.
Meaning that the names of files/folders are 'fixed' in advance.
Whereas my idea is to select files/folders (can be anything) and that these files/folders are 'passed on' to ccleaner to be erased.
As said, currently one has to use 3rd party tools (fileshredders) having context menu support.
Well, anyway.. it was/is a suggestion only.
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In the command line you use "%1" as placeholder for the file or folder that was right clicked.  There are many examples on the web.

[tomos]

Dopus used offer secure delete 'in house' - is that gone? (couldn't find it myself)

Search for "Secure delete" in the help:

There are two ways to use secure delete:
On a per-file basis, using the Secure Wipe command in the drop-down attached to the Delete button on the toolbar.

[image]

When you run this command, selected files and folders will be overwritten the number of times specified on the File Operations / Deleting Files page in Preferences.

If you always want to use secure delete, you can turn on the Use Secure Wipe option on the Deleting Files page in Preferences. With this option on, Opus will use secure delete whenever it's not deleting files to the recycle bin - so if you for example, press Shift+Delete to delete a file bypassing the recycle bin, the file will be securely deleted. You can even turn off the recycle bin altogether if desired.

[IainB]

@tomos: Yes, it's quite clear from the manual that this secure delete/"wipe" feature is already in Opus. I presume it would be a feature in any decent alternative to Windows Explorer - e.g., it's in xplorer² (which I use).

[dcwul62]

In the command line you use "%1" as placeholder for the file or folder that was right clicked.  There are many examples on the web.

Okay, many thanks. will check this out.
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[dcwul62]

@tomos @IainB
Thanks for your comments.

I know it has a feature of secure delete. There is a small drawback though.
When running a file-recovery tool (e.g. Recuva, R-Undelete or so) using a kind 'deep scan' method,
it will display the foldername/path.
Even though the files are randomly renamed and even though they may not be recovered, the paths/foldernames
may reveal information about the possible contents of the (unrecoverable) files.
like:
file: xyttouuxblablabla.xxx
path:\ForumPasswords

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[attachthumb=#]
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Possibly the only solution is to run a drive "wipe free space" at regular intervals.
e.g. CCleaner fills path with ZZZ's.

So, let it rest.
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[IainB]

...When running a file-recovery tool (e.g. Recuva, R-Undelete or so) using a kind 'deep scan' method,
it will display the foldername/path....

VERY interesting. Thanks for that bit of knowledge. I must check whether xplorer² is similar.

[dcwul62]

Below examples:

deleted testfiles from a 'test'-folder using BCWipe
(settings: wipe: MFT Records, Directory Slacks and NTFS Transactions Log File)
all 1 pass

deleted some other testfolder from a folder named 'RWC Folder'
(settings: wipe Alternate Data Streams and wipe cluster tips)
all 1 pass

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Then run CCleaner settings:
1 pass,  wipe alternate data streams, wipe cluster tips, wipe MFT Free Space

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You see, now, folders are filled with 'ZZZ'
BCWipe, Wipe Free Space of a drive shows something like just Q:\?\

Like this

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Just for your info.
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[IainB]

Just for our information, I asked on the xplorer² User Forum for the Specification of what SHRED does..

Nikos posted a reply:

Re: Specification of what SHRED does.
nikos » Tue Apr 29, 2014 2:24 am
shred does a good job but it isn't FBI proof
www.zabkat.com/blog/30Aug09-destroy-files.htm
you can shred a file and try to restore it yourself and see how it goes

[dcwul62]

Well, I guess there are a lot of 'tools' that are shredding/secure erasing files, most of them are free.
Lots of reviews as well. Thing that is important to me: it should be userfriendly, meaning: either a shortcut, like ctrl-w and that should call the tool and erase selected files 1 pass
Or select files/folders+context menu file erase.
Over time I have paid a LOT of time on this.

Bottomline, after quite some tests, just recently I have come to the conclusion that most the most efficient solution is to:
- use normal delete, of the Opus built in secure delete (ctrl-w with me does: dopusrt /cmd Delete NORECYCLE QUIET SECURE=1)
  (this will still display pathnames)
- then every week or two weeks, run CCleaner Drive Wipe Free Space

R-Wipe and Clean: when running WipeFree Space with that tool, it fills your harddisk entirely with a temporary file.
(e.g. you have 1TB drive, filled with 500GB, then RWC will create 500GB temporary file. This takes a tre-men-dous long time, with huge HD activity)

BCWipe does a good job, but is very very slow. It runs the entire night taking a 1TB drive, starting at 19:00 and maybe it is ready the next morning when you get up.
and ... sometimes the paths are not cleared(!)

CCleaner is doing the job in a couple of hours, pathnames/files are filled with ZZZZ's

CCleaner is a very good tool, really.
Their 'Pro' version is usd.19.95 .. on ANNUAL basis(!) which is really too much, whilst comparing with its own free tool and other free tools around.
Even when comparing with some paid software.


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[dcwul62]

@skwire - am afraid there is no solution. wud it be possible to delete this thread or move it to unfinished?
many thanks.
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