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This article contains frequently asked questions related to the erasure of write-protected, "locked" and encrypted files.

• Can Blancco File Eraser shred a file or folder that is write-protected: Does the software automatically remove write protection from a file if it has admin-level access to it?
  • Yes, if a Blancco File Eraser user has the proper user

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• • rights to a file or a folder, it can be shredded. It is recommended that Blancco File Eraser is used with the rights of a local administrator.
• Can Blancco File Eraser shred a password-protected file (for example a password-protected zip package)?
  • Yes it can. The software does not need to access the contents of a file, so it does not require any password for the shredding operation.
• Can Blancco File Eraser shred an encrypted file?
  • Yes it can. The software does not need to access the contents of a file, so it does not require any decryption before the shredding operation
• Can Blancco File Eraser shred files that are quarantined by some virus protection software (“virus chest”)?
  • Yes, as long as the user has proper user rights to these files. Usually, these

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• • types of files are not protected at all. Just moved to a special folder.
• If a file is "locked" because it is used by an application, is there any way to shred it?
  • Yes, this can be done by running the Blancco File Eraser shredding commands from the command line tool. There are certain shredding command parameters which can "force" the

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• • deletion of "locked" files.