Jihosoft Eraser vs Competitors: Which File Shredder Is Best?

How to Use Jihosoft Eraser to Permanently Delete Files — Step-by-Step GuidePermanent deletion of sensitive files is essential when you want to protect privacy, sell or donate a device, or comply with data-retention policies. Jihosoft Eraser is a tool designed to securely and permanently destroy files, folders, and entire drives so the data cannot be recovered by standard recovery tools. This guide walks you through what Jihosoft Eraser does, when to use it, and a detailed step-by-step process for securely wiping files, partitions, or whole drives on Windows and macOS where applicable.

What Jihosoft Eraser Does

Jihosoft Eraser overwrites data areas of storage devices with specific patterns so original file contents are irrecoverable by typical forensic or recovery software. Depending on the method you choose, it may perform a single-pass overwrite or multiple passes using standards such as DoD 5220.22-M-style patterns. Overwriting replaces the binary contents of sectors previously occupied by files, making it practically impossible for software-based recovery to reconstruct the original data.

When to Use Jihosoft Eraser

Use Jihosoft Eraser when:

• You’re disposing of, donating, or selling a computer or storage device.
• You need to permanently delete sensitive personal, financial, or business files.
• You must comply with data-handling policies or legal requirements for secure deletion.
• You want to ensure deleted files cannot be reconstructed by recovery tools.

Before You Start: Important Precautions

• Back up any files you might need later. Once erased with secure methods, files are unrecoverable.
• Verify which drive or partition you’re erasing. Accidentally wiping the wrong drive can cause irreversible data loss.
• If you’re erasing a system drive (where your OS is installed), you’ll usually need to boot from external media or use a wipe function that targets the drive before the OS loads. Jihosoft Eraser offers options for different scenarios—read prompts carefully.
• For physical drives with hardware encryption or SSDs, secure deletion behavior may differ. SSDs use wear-leveling and may require manufacturer-specific secure erase commands to fully purge data.

Installing Jihosoft Eraser

1. Download the installer from the official Jihosoft website. Confirm you’re on the correct vendor site to avoid counterfeit software.
2. Run the installer and follow on-screen instructions.
3. Grant any required permissions; on macOS you may need to allow the app in Security & Privacy > Privacy to access files or full disk access.
4. Launch Jihosoft Eraser after installation completes.

Step-by-Step: Permanently Deleting Files (Windows and macOS)

Note: UI labels may vary by version. The steps below follow common secure-erase interfaces.

1. Open Jihosoft Eraser.
2. Select the deletion mode. Common modes:
   • File Shredding — overwrite specific files or folders.
   • Partition/Drive Wipe — erase entire partitions or drives.
   • Free Space Wipe — overwrite unused space to remove remnants of previously deleted files.
3. For File Shredding: a. Click “Add Files” or “Add Folder.” b. Browse and select the files/folders to remove. c. Choose the overwrite method (e.g., 1-pass, 3-pass, DoD-style). d. Click “Start” or “Erase.” Confirm any warnings.
4. For Drive/Partition Wipe: a. Select the target drive or partition. Double-check the label, capacity, and contents preview. b. Choose wipe method and whether to perform quick or full wipe. c. Click “Erase” and confirm. The process can take hours for large drives.
5. For Free Space Wipe: a. Choose the drive whose free space you want to clean. b. Select overwrite method and start.
6. Wait for completion. The app will usually display progress and a completion report. Do not interrupt power during a wipe.

Recommended Overwrite Methods

• Single-pass zero — fast but less secure against advanced recovery; acceptable for non-sensitive data.
• DoD 3-pass (like DoD 5220.22-M) — balanced: three passes mixing zeros, ones, and random data; widely used and adequate for most needs.
• 7-pass or 35-pass Gutmann — very thorough but time-consuming; overkill for modern drives, especially SSDs.

Special Considerations for SSDs and Encrypting Drives

• SSDs: Because of wear leveling and remapped sectors, multiple-pass overwrites may not touch all physical locations. Use the drive manufacturer’s “Secure Erase” utility or the SSD’s built-in secure erase (via ATA secure erase command) when possible.
• Encrypted drives: If the drive uses full-disk encryption, securely erasing the encryption key (crypto-erase) is typically the fastest and most effective method.
• Hardware RAID: Wiping individual disks in RAID arrays may not fully remove data from logical volumes; consult RAID controller documentation.

Verifying Deletion

• Jihosoft Eraser may provide a completion log showing the chosen method and target.
• For extra confidence, run a reputable file-recovery tool on the wiped area; it should not find recoverable contents.
• For highly sensitive scenarios, consider a physical destruction service for storage media.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Permission errors: On Windows, run as Administrator. On macOS, grant Full Disk Access to the app.
• Long runtime: Large drives and multi-pass methods can take many hours. Use a full-power connection and avoid sleep mode.
• Incomplete wipes on SSDs: Use manufacturer secure-erase utilities or perform crypto-erase if encrypted.

Alternatives and Complementary Tools

• Manufacturer secure-erase utilities (for SSDs).
• Built-in OS tools: Windows’ cipher /w for free space; macOS Disk Utility’s erase options.
• Other third-party erasers with verification features or bootable media for wiping system drives.

Final Notes

Secure deletion is a deliberate process—choose the right method for your device and threat model. For most users, a 3-pass DoD-style overwrite for HDDs or a manufacturer secure erase/crypto-erase for SSDs provides a strong balance of security and practicality.