SECURE DATA WIPING

This project presents a secure file wiping system that permanently destroys data beyond forensic recovery. The application implements the Department of Defense 5220.22-M standard through three-pass overwriting using random data, binary zeros, and binary ones. A SHA-256 hash is calculated before wiping to provide cryptographic verification and proof of file existence. The system also wipes freed disk space to prevent slack space recovery and maintains comprehensive JSON audit logs with timestamps and file metadata. Built with Python and PyQt5, the software features an intuitive graphical interface for selecting files or folders, previewing contents, and monitoring real-time progress. The final product is packaged as a standalone executable using PyInstaller, requiring no Python installation on the target Windows system. Extensive testing with forensic recovery tools confirms that wiped data cannot be recovered, making this solution suitable for both personal privacy and organizational compliance requirements.