Secure deletion – what a browser can do
Deleting a file “securely” means physically overwriting its storage. A browser cannot do that – so this page does not pretend to. Here is, honestly, what works instead.
What is not possible in a browser
Browsers are not allowed to delete or overwrite files on your device. They only see a copy you hand them. The original stays untouched where it is.
Even if a program were allowed to overwrite data, that guarantees nothing: SSDs and USB sticks spread writes around (wear levelling) and keep old versions elsewhere. Cloud folders, backups, shadow copies and recycle bins hold further copies.
Overwrite tools (“shredders”) are only somewhat reliable on classic hard disks and often ineffective on flash storage.
What really helps
- Encrypt before saving: keep sensitive files encrypted from the start (for example with the file vault). Later it is enough to destroy the key (“crypto-shredding”). File vault
- Enable full-disk encryption (BitLocker, FileVault, LUKS, Android/iOS device encryption). A deleted file system is then just noise without the key.
- When selling or disposing: reset the device, have the encryption key material erased (factory reset on encrypted devices) or destroy the drive mechanically.
- On SSDs and flash media use the manufacturer’s “Secure Erase” / “Sanitize” command; on NVMe “nvme format --ses=1”.
- On classic hard disks one overwrite pass is enough (for example with “shred -n 1” or “dd”). Multi-pass overwriting is outdated.
- Remember: cloud storage, e-mail attachments, backups, messenger history and browser downloads.
What this app does for you
Intermediate results (for example when encrypting large files) live in the browser’s private storage. They are deleted by “Clear selection” after saving, or the next time the page loads. Passwords stay in memory only and are cleared when finished or by the auto-lock.