content: Tip: How to permanently delete files from your computer Hi! So I looked up how to permanently delete files from your computer, since (many of you probably already know this) just deleting it, or even formatting your hard drive, won't actually delete something. How it works on a technical level is basically this: When you delete a picture of a dog, the areas on the hard drive that hold doggy information won't actually be wiped clean. They'll just be marked "available" so that other information can overwrite doggy information. However, if nothing ever overwrites doggy, then the doggy information will be there for an expert to extract and see.  So this is how you do it, I'll link two free programs that are practical (I'm sure you can google and find more):  Eraser. This is a program that allows you to delete specific files completely. Just install the software, right click on a file and press "Eraser" that will appear in the drop-down menu if you've got this application installed. You can also "Delete after restart" if Windows is giving you a hard time for some specific files.  CCleaner. This is a program that allows you to delete information that has not yet been overwritten in "available" areas on the hard drive. For example if you've deleted something before without a tool like Eraser and you want to make sure they're gone for good.  Both these applications have options to overwrite the area a file was saved at several times to completely ensure they're gone. However, unless you've got a hard drive from 1995 this is not necessary. Just doing it once will be enough. Twice for safety.  EDIT: According to /u/Estafusis the following program is no longer supported and possible not secure. Bonus: If you've got files that you don't want to delete (at least right now) but you still want to keep them secured, you can download TrueCrypt. This is a program that allows you to encrypt your files (for free of course). TrueCrypt was briefly shut down a few years ago due to concerns that it might not be completely secure, however it has been reinstated since it was confirmed that TrueCrypt is secure.  Background: Unfortunately this is not a hobby thing, but due to a rather serious situation. I live in Sweden and we have a very loosely defined "hate speech" law. You'd think that loosely defined would be good for the defendants, but the courts in Sweden almost exclusively side with the state in regards to the "hate speech" law (fines or up to 2 years in prison). An example of "hate speech" being used as a political tool is how a leader for the Nordic Resistance Movement just got thrown in jail for 4 months after having called Adolf Hitler a hero for the German people (loosely defined = the state can jail anyone they see fit). So let's just say I'd rather err on the side of caution.