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- What are the System Requirements for running ShredIt X?
- What's the difference between using a shredding utility and deleting items using the Trash?
- How can I determine whether I need a file shredder?
- Are there other versions of ShredIt?
- Is there a ShredIt X Tutorial?
- How do I use the free trial/demo?
Registration and Installation
- How do I install / uninstall the software?
- When I run the program, it displays the "Registration" dialog. What's wrong?
- When I try to register, the "Invalid Registration Information" message is displayed. What's wrong?
- How do I know if I've successfully registered the software?
Operation
- Can I use ShredIt X to erase a file?
- Can I use ShredIt X to erase a folder?
- Can I use ShredIt X as a hard drive eraser to wipe the free space on a disk?
- Can I use ShredIt X as a hard drive eraser to erase previously deleted files?
- Can I use ShredIt X as a hard drive eraser to erase a hard drive?
- Can I use ShredIt X as a hard drive eraser to erase an external hard drive?
- Can I use ShredIt X as a hard drive eraser to erase a USB Flash Drive?
- Can I use ShredIt X to erase my internet files - internet cache, history files, email?
- How do I erase a CD-RW?
- Can I shred an alias?
Features
- How do I use the scheduled freespace shredding feature?
- How do I get ShredIt X to require confirmation before it shreds?
- How do I verify what was erased?
- How do I enable DOD 5220 standard compliant shredding?
- How do I enable NSA standard compliant shredding?
- How do I enable Gutmann standard compliant shredding?
- How do I enable DoE standard compliant shredding?
- How do I use the "Safe Place" feature to protect my files from accidental shredding?
Other
- When I try and shred the freespace on the Macintosh HD volume, I get an error saying I don’t have the adequate permissions. What's wrong?
- I quit ShredIt before it finished and it left files in a ShedIt X Items folder. Have they been shredded?
- What are the technical details?
- What happens if I use a File Recovery Utility?
- Can I use ShredIt X if I use Apple's Time Machine?
- Your FAQ doesn't answer my question/I need further help. What do I do?
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1. What are the System Requirements for running ShredIt X?
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This information is available
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2. What's the difference between using a shredding utility and deleting items using the Trash?
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Throwing a file in the trash does not remove the file contents from the hard disk – it just removes the file name from the directory, leaving the data intact and vulnerable. In order to securely delete the file contents from the hard disk, you need to overwrite the area on the disk where the file contents are stored with other data. This is what ShredIt does.
In addition, you need to ensure that you securely delete all copies of the file. When you edit a file, the application program will create and delete working copies each time you save, leaving mulitple copies of your file on the hard disk in the disk free space area. In order to securely delete these copies, you need to shred your free space. ShredIt also does this.
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3. How can I determine whether I need a file shredder?
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To assess your risk, take the ShredIt Quiz available from
http://www.mireth.com/text/si_test.html
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4. Are there other versions of ShredIt?
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Yes.
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5. Is there a ShredIt X Tutorial?
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Yes there is. Refer to our site at http://www.mireth.com/wt/sxme-quickstart.html
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6. How do I use the ShredIt X free trial/demo?
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For complete instructions on how to use the demo,
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7. How do I install/uninstall the software?
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For complete instructions on how to install or uninstall,
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8. When the program runs, it displays the "Register" dialog. What do I do?
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You haven't registered the software.
- If you have already entered your Registration Information/Serial Number and are getting this message, there is an error in the Registration Information/Serial Number you have entered. For further information, refer to the "When I try to register, the "Invalid Registration Information" message question in this faq.
- If you want to register the program, enter the Registration Information/Serial Number and click the "Register" Button. If you purchased online, the Registration Information/Serial Number is in the email we sent you. If you purchaseda CD, the Registration Information/Serial Number is printed on the CD packaging. For further information about registering, refer to the Read Me in the documentation folder.
- If you want to quit, click the "Quit" Button
- If you are trying to run the demo, click the "Run Demo" Button. Registration Information is not required. For further information about running in demo mode, refer to the Read Me file in the documentation folder.
- If you want to purchase this product, and have not already, click "Buy Now".
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9. When I try to register, the "Invalid Registration Information" message is displayed. What's wrong?
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There is an error in the registration information you entered. Please follow these steps:
- Verify that you entered the correct License Type. If you purchased online, check that the License Type you entered matches the one in the email you received from us. If you purchased from a retail outlet, use the License Type "Individual"
- Verify that you entered the correct Purchase's ID/Email Address. If you purchased online, enter the Email address used when the product was purchased. If you purchased from a retail outlet, use the Purchaser's ID that came with the product.
- Verify that you entered the Registration Key/Serial Number correctly. Check for the following common problems:
- typing the letter O or I instead of the number 0 or 1
- transposing 2 digits
- adding extra spaces before or after the Purchaser's ID or Serial Number
- entering the registration information more than once (click in the field and scroll with the arrow keys to see this)
- entering the registration information for the wrong product.
- If that didn't solve the problem, delete your preferences file and configure ShredIt X again. The preferences file's location is: "$HOME/Library/Preferences/com.mirith.shredit.plist"
- If that didn't solve the problem, send a copy of your preferences file to Product Support (support@mireth.com) so we can determine the nature of the problem. The preferences file's location is: "$HOME/Library/Preferences/com.mirith.shredit.plist"
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10. How do I know if I've successfully registered the software?
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To verify whether the product is already registered, choose "Preferences" from the "ShredIt X" menu. If the product is unregistered, the "Register" dialog will be blank. If the product is registered, the "Already Registered" message will be displayed.
In addition, if the program is registered, the Register Dialog Box will not be displayed when you run the program.
If you are already a registered user and you have downloaded a free upgrade, your old registration information is retained. You don't need to re-register.
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11. Can I use ShredIt X to erase a file?
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Yes, you can use ShredIt X to erase one file at a time. For step-by-step instructions,
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12. Can I use ShredIt X to erase a folder?
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Yes, you can use ShredIt X to erase one folder at a time. For step-by-step instructions,
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13. Can I use ShredIt X as a Hard Drive Eraser to wipe the free space on a disk?
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Yes, you can use ShredIt X to wipe / shred / erase the free space on your hard drive, or on an external disk/hard drive. For step-by-step instructions,
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14. Can I use ShredIt X as a Hard Drive Eraser to erase previously deleted files?
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You can use ShredIt X to erase files you've already deleted. You just need to shred the freespace on your hard drive. For step-by-step instructions,
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15. Can I use ShredIt X as a hard drive eraer to erase a hard drive?
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Yes, you can use ShredIt for Mac OS X as a hard drive eraser to erase the contents of a hard drive. We recommend that you do this to clean the drive before you dispose of a computer. For step-by-step instructions,
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16. Can I use ShredIt X as a hard drive eraser to erase an external hard drive?
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Yes, you can use ShredIt for Mac OS X as a hard drive eraser to erase the contents of a hard drive. We recommend that you do this to clean the drive before you dispose of a hard drive. For step-by-step instructions,
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17. Can I use ShredIt X as a hard drive eraser to erase a USB Flash Drive?
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Yes, you can use ShredIt for Mac OS X as a hard drive eraser to erase the contents of a USB Flash Drive. We recommend that you do this to after handling confidential data and before disposing of the Flash Drive. For step-by-step instructions,
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18. Can I use ShredIt to erase my internet files - internet cache, history files, email trash?
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Yes, you can use ShredIt for Mac OS X to erase the temporary files created when you use the internet, although it would be cumbersome. For step-by-step instructions,
For a much more convenient way of doing this, use NetShred, the automatic internet track eraser. NetShred will automatically locate and erase temporary internet files every time you quit from your browser or email program.
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19. How do I erase a CD-RW?
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For step-by-step instructions for how to erase a CD-RW so the data can't be recovered,
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20. Can I shred an alias?
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You can use ShredIt for Mac OS X to shred an alias. For step-by-step instructions,
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21. How do I use the scheduled freespace shredding feature?
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You can use ShredIt for Mac OS X to erase freespace automatically on a scheduled basis. This ensures that previous versions of files you have edited. For step-by-step instructions,
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22. How do I get ShredIt X to require confirmation before it shreds?
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You can configure ShredIt X to require confirmation before shredding in the preferences. For step-by-step instructions,
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23. How do I verify what was erased?
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You can configure ShredIt X to show you what was shredded. For step-by-step instructions,
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24. How do I enable DoD 5220 standard compliant shredding?
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You can configure ShredIt X to comply with DoD 5220 standard in the preferences. For step-by-step instructions,
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25. How do I enable NSA standard compliant shredding?
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You can configure ShredIt X to comply with the NSA standard in the preferences. For step-by-step instructions,
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26. How do I enable Gutmann standard compliant shredding?
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You can configure ShredIt X to comply with the Gutmann standard in the preferences. For step-by-step instructions,
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27. How do I enable DoE standard compliant shredding?
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You can configure ShredIt X to comply with the DoE standard in the preferences. For step-by-step instructions,
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28. How do I use the Safe Place feature to protect my files from accidental shredding?
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You can protect your documents from accidental shredding using the SafePlace feature. For step-by-step instructions,
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29. When I try and shred the freespace on the Macintosh HD volume, I get an error saying I don’t have the adequate permissions. What's wrong?
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In order to shred free space, you need to have Administrator write access to the root directory (/). If you are the only user on the computer, you should have that by default. If there is an Administrator for the computer,
- Log in as the Administrator
- Run the Disk Utility and Repair Permissions on your startup disk
- Run ShredIt again.
- If its still not working, then launch the terminal and type this command:
sudo chmod ug+w /
- You will be prompted for the admin password.
- Then run ShredIt again.
- If following these steps doesn't solve the problem, contact support.
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30. I quit ShredIt before it finished and it left files a ShredIt X Items folder. Have they been shredded?
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None of the files left in a ShredIt X Items folder are completely shredded. You need to drag the ShredIt Items folder on to the ShredIt X icon to finish shredding. If the files will not shred, there may be a problem with your hard disk. Please contact Support.
(Please Note: ShredIt X did not cause the problem with your hard drive. The inability to shred is often indicative of bad sectors on the drive, an early indicator of a failing hard drive.)
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31. What are the technical details?
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By shredding, we mean that for each requested file ShredIt X will overwrite the contents of the file. The pattern of bits which ShredIt X will use to overwrite with is configured by the user. The default pattern used is proprietary. The number of times the data will be overwritten is configured by the user. The default number of times the data is overwritten is proprietary.
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32. What happens if I use a File Recovery Utility?
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If you are using a File Recovery Utility, and you shred files using ShredIt or NetShred, you will be able to recover the names of the files you have shredded, but not the contents. For an explanation of why, read on.
A File Recovery Utility will recover files that have been erased. It does this by keeping a separate directory of the files on your hard drive and keeping the current location of the last contents of the file. So, if you accidentally deleted your doctoral thesis, you could recover the file using a File Recovery Utility. But, if you had made changes to your thesis first, saved it and then deleted it, your File Recovery Utility could recover the file, but not recover it the way it once was, before you changed it.
Both NetShred and ShredIt work by overwriting the contents of each file with random data before deleting the file. So, even if you use a File Recovery Utility, it can't recover data in the file the way it once was before NetShred or ShredIt overwrote the file with random data. It can, however, recover the file name since it stores this in it's own directory file.
Since the function of a shredder utility is to make files unrecoverable and the function of a file recovery utility is to make files recoverable, you have to decide which is more important to you. We'd recommend the following:
- If you don't want to be able to recover the file name or file contents of any file you want to get rid of, use a file shredder utility (ShredIt, NetShred) to dispose of it and don't use a file recovery utility on your machine.
- If you want to be able to recover the contents of any file you have gotten rid of, use a file recovery utility on your machine, but don't use a file shredder utility, since you won't be able to recover the contents of any file you shred.
- If you don't want to be able to recover the contents of any file you have shredded, but do want to be able to recover the contents of any file you have deleted, use both a file recovery utility and a file shredder utility on your machine. (Just make sure you don't shred a file you might want to recover.) This will be a good compromise provided that the ability to recover the file name does not compromise your security.
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33. Can I use ShredIt X if I use Apple's Time Machine?
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Yes, but you want to ensure that Time Machine is not backing up the ShredIt X temporary file when you are shredding freespace.
Configure Time Machine to "not" backup the ShredIt X Freespace folder. (You can only to do this once, not every time you shred freespace.) Follow these instructions:
- Run ShredIt X and start shredding freespace. (You have to create the temporary file so you can exclude it from Time Machine.)
- Open the System Preferences and Select "Time Machine".
- Click the Options button.
- Add the ShredIt X Fresspace folder to the Time Machine "Do not back up" list
- On the Time Machine "Do not back up" Dialog, click "+",
- Using the window, find the folder HardDrive>ShredIt X FreeSpace
- Select it using the "Exclude" button
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34. Your FAQ doesn't answer my question/I need further help. What do I do?
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If your question is not answered, please contact Product Support at support@mireth.com. Please include the following information:
- Problem description
- If the problem is specific to one of our products, please also include:
- Software Name and Product Version
To find the version number,
Mac: single click the product icon and Get Info (File:Get Info)
Windows: single click the product icon and show properties (File:Properties:Version tab)
- What Operating System and version you are running.
To find the version number,
Windows: (Start Menu:My Computer:Help:About Windows)
Mac OS X: (Apple Menu:About this Mac)
Mac: OS 8, Mas OS 9: (Apple Menu:About this Computer)
- Whether you are using the trial version or the registered version of the product
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