Open source for Windows

Secure File Shredder

  • Permanently delete sensitive files with cryptographic random overwrite passes—then remove them from disk beyond standard Recycle Bin recovery.
  • Queue files and entire folders via drag-and-drop, command-line arguments, or the Windows “Shred Securely” context menu.
  • Runs entirely on your PC—no cloud account, no network calls, no browser. A native .NET 8 Windows Forms desktop application.
Download for Windows View on GitHub
Secure File Shredder main window showing file queue, pass and buffer settings

Features

Everything the application does

A focused Windows desktop tool for secure file and folder destruction—every capability from the application, nothing simulated in the browser.

Windows desktop application

Built with .NET 8 (net8.0-windows) and Windows Forms. Launches locally on your machine—shredding never happens in a web browser.

Single-instance with IPC

Only one app window runs at a time via a named mutex. A second launch from the context menu or CLI sends file paths to the running instance through Win32 WM_COPYDATA messaging.

File and folder queue

Drag-and-drop files or folders into the list, pass paths as command-line arguments, or receive them via IPC. Folders expand recursively; paths are deduplicated before shredding.

Shred configuration

Choose pass count presets (1, 3, 7, 12, 35, or 55) and buffer size from 1 KB to 512 KB (default 4 KB). A confirmation dialog appears before any data is destroyed.

Secure overwrite

Each pass overwrites file content with bytes from RNGCryptoServiceProvider. Pass preset labels (Normal, DoD, Gutmann, etc.) control the number of passes only—the same random-byte algorithm runs every time.

Post-shred deletion

After all overwrite passes complete, the app deletes each file with File.Delete and removes dragged root folders with Directory.Delete (recursive) on the UI thread.

Shell context menu

The Inno Setup installer registers a “Shred Securely” entry on files and folders in Windows Explorer, launching the app with the selected path as an argument.

Progress and cancellation

A BackgroundWorker keeps the UI responsive during shredding. A progress bar tracks overwrite passes; closing the window cancels the operation mid-queue.

How it works

From launch to irrecoverable deletion

The full user journey—from opening the app to downloading a release build.

  1. App startup

    Launch SecureFileShredder.exe directly, from a shortcut, or with file paths as arguments. The app acquires a SecureShredder mutex—if another instance is already running, paths are forwarded via IPC instead of opening a second window.

  2. Add files to queue

    Drop files or folders onto the list, use the “Shred Securely” context menu, pass CLI arguments, or let a second instance send paths over IPC. Directories are tracked and flattened recursively into individual file paths.

  3. Start shredding

    Select pass count and buffer size, then click Start. Confirm the warning dialog. The background worker overwrites each file with random data for the configured number of passes while the progress bar updates.

  4. Complete shredding

    When overwriting finishes, the app deletes every queued file, then removes each root folder you dragged in. A success message appears and the queue clears.

  5. Cancel or exit

    Close the window during an active shred to cancel. The worker stops between files, shows a cancelled message, and restores the UI. Files already overwritten may still be deleted depending on where cancellation occurred.

  6. Get the installer

    Published GitHub releases trigger a CI pipeline: MSBuild Release, Inno Setup packaging, and upload of Secure Shredder.exe to GitHub Releases. Download the latest installer below—no build tools required.

Benefits

Why use Secure File Shredder

Practical value for privacy, security, and day-to-day operations on Windows.

Personal privacy

Remove tax documents, medical records, or personal files before recycling a drive—without relying on cloud services.

Device handoff

Prepare a PC for resale or return by shredding confidential folders locally before wiping or reinstalling.

Confidential cleanup

Dispose of HR, finance, or legal drafts that must not remain recoverable after a normal delete.

Fully offline

No external services, accounts, or network calls. Your files never leave the machine during shredding.

MIT open source

Inspect the source on GitHub, contribute improvements, or build from scratch—published under the MIT license.

Security & compliance

How secure deletion works—and its limits

Accurate security posture based on the application’s implementation, not marketing claims.

  • Cryptographic random overwrite: Every pass writes bytes generated by RNGCryptoServiceProvider across the full file length in configurable buffer chunks.
  • Overwrite, then delete: Files are fully overwritten before File.Delete runs. Folder removal happens only after all contained files are processed.
  • Pass labels are count presets only: Names like DoD, NSA, or Gutmann in the dropdown indicate how many random overwrite passes to run—not distinct byte-pattern algorithms per standard.
  • Windows only: Requires .NET 8 on Windows (net8.0-windows). Not available for macOS or Linux.
  • Use on files you own: Provided for educational and legitimate data-disposal purposes. You are responsible for complying with applicable laws and organizational policies.

Disclaimer: Secure File Shredder is provided “as is” under the MIT license with no warranty. While multi-pass random overwrite significantly reduces recoverability on traditional magnetic storage, no software can guarantee erasure against all forensic techniques (e.g. SSD wear-leveling, remapped sectors, or backups). Use only on files and devices you are authorized to destroy.

Use cases

When to reach for secure shredding

Realistic scenarios where overwriting before deletion matters.

Identity and financial documents

Shred scanned IDs, bank statements, or contracts stored on a local drive before decommissioning hardware.

Workstation offboarding

Remove project folders and exports from a departing employee’s machine using the folder queue and context menu.

Bulk folder cleanup

Drag an entire directory tree into the app; nested files are discovered recursively and shredded in sequence.

Integrations

Built on local Windows APIs

No cloud services—only operating-system and build-tool integrations.

Win32 user32.dll

P/Invoke for window lookup, borderless form dragging, and inter-process WM_COPYDATA file handoff between instances.

RNGCryptoServiceProvider

.NET cryptography API supplying unpredictable random bytes for every overwrite pass in ShredderController.

Windows Registry

Installer writes HKCR shell keys so Explorer shows “Shred Securely” for all files and directories.

Inno Setup

Packages the Release build into a Windows installer (Secure Shredder.exe) with optional desktop shortcut.

GitHub Releases

CI uploads the compiled installer when a GitHub release is published—your download source for pre-built binaries.

At a glance

Key specifications

Verified configuration ranges from the application source.

6 Pass presets
(1, 3, 7, 12, 35, 55)
4 KB Default buffer
(1 KB – 512 KB range)
.NET 8 Target framework
(net8.0-windows)
100% Offline & local
(no cloud services)

Screenshots

The desktop application

Secure File Shredder runs as a native Windows Forms app—not in your browser.

Secure File Shredder main window with file list and shred controls
Main window — queue, pass count, and buffer size
Secure File Shredder during active shredding with progress bar
Active shred — background worker with progress bar

FAQ

Common questions

Do pass names like DoD or Gutmann use different algorithms?

No. Preset labels in the Total Passes dropdown only set how many overwrite passes run. Every pass uses the same RNGCryptoServiceProvider random-byte write—the names are shorthand for pass counts (1, 3, 7, 12, 35, or 55), not distinct byte patterns per standard.

What do I need to run it?

Windows with .NET 8 (net8.0-windows). The application is a WinForms desktop program—not a web app. Download the installer from GitHub Releases.

Can I cancel while shredding?

Yes. Close the window during an active operation to trigger cancellation via BackgroundWorker.CancelAsync. The app shows a cancelled message and restores the UI. Files already overwritten may still be deleted depending on timing.

How do I get the context menu?

Install using the Inno Setup installer (Secure Shredder.exe) from GitHub Releases. The installer registers “Shred Securely” under files and folders in Windows Explorer.

What happens when I shred a folder?

The app recursively collects every file inside the folder, overwrites each one, deletes the files, then removes the root folder with Directory.Delete (recursive).

What if the app is already open and I use the context menu?

A second process detects the running instance via a mutex and sends the selected paths to the existing window through Win32 IPC (WM_COPYDATA)—no duplicate windows.

Is commercial licensing available?

Enterprise licensing is planned but not implemented yet (LicenseController is a stub). The app is currently free and open source under the MIT license.

Windows desktop application · MIT open source

Get Secure File Shredder

Download the pre-built Secure Shredder installer from GitHub Releases. Shredding runs locally on your PC—no sign-up, no cloud, no browser required.

Download for Windows See how it works

Requires Windows and .NET 8. Published by Softasium Software Solutions. macOS and Linux are not supported.