Which delete procedure is used by the SafeGuard PrivateCrypto function "secure delete"?

Product
SafeGuard PrivateCrypto 2.x

Client OS
Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP



Question

Which delete procedure is used by the SafeGuard PrivateCrypto function "secure delete"? How often are files overwritten? Is that configurable?

Answer

If a file is deleted with the SafeGuard PrivateCrypto function "secure delete", the file (in fact the disk space it is stored on) is overwritten three times with coincidental values.

Threefold overwriting is the minimum value and the standard configuration of SafeGuard PrivateCrypto.

The following Registry entry configures the number of times, which a file (the disk space it is stored on) is overwritten after it is deleted:

Path: HKLM\Software\Utimaco\SGPC

Key: WipeIterations

Value: arbitrary (minimum = 3 [0 to 2 has no effect])