SHRED (VERSION 1.0)                 Copyright (c) 1995, Michael J.Mefford
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              First Published in PC Magazine January 10, 1995 (Utilities)
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SHRED by Michael J. Mefford

Purpose:

         SHRED destroys sensitive or secret files on-disk so they can't
be recovered by any means.

When it is deleted, a file normally is not physically destroyed, only its
directory entry is removed. Nor does reformatting a disk destroy the files,
either. SHRED however makes sure files are obliterated by overwriting the files you specify with zeros.

Syntax:

         SHRED [d:] [filespec] [/S] [/F] [/D] [/C]

         The d: parameter is the target disk drive, and "filespec" is the
     target path and filename. If no path is specified, the current directory
     is assumed.

         /S tells SHRED to delete all the files in the current directory
     and all files in all subdirectories beneath it.

         /F tells SHRED to delete all the free space on the disk—that is,
     to shred all the files you’ve deleted in the past.

         /D tells SHRED to delete only (like the DOS DEL command);
     no shredding.

         /C tells SHRED not to ask for confirmation before shredding.
     Use this option with caution!

Remarks:

     All the SHRED options can be used in combination except for /D and /F.
If you use these two options together, the /F is ignored.

The /D option in combination with the /S option will delete (but not shred) all the files in the current subdirectory and all the files in all the subdirectories beneath it. Unlike the DELTREE command found in DOS 6.0 or later, a SHRED /D command will not affect read-only files or the directory structure itself.

Once you have shredded a file, it is gone forever! If there is any chance that you might need the file in the future, do not shred it. No unerase utility will work once SHRED has destroyed a file.
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Michael J. Mefford is a Contributing Editor of PC Magazine.
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