Using CCleaner, I stopped the DOD 5220.22-M 3 pass erase after two passes. If I restart CCleaner, will stopping it after one pass equal to the full three passes.
I don't really know. I'd guess no because most of the erase algo's require the write of a different hexadecimal pattern every pass. CCleaner will probably not have executed pass 3 if you restart it.
But a one pass zero fill should be enough to delete your file beyond recovery on any modern drive. I might considere a more 'secure' algo if I get rid of my drive but that is just safety between my ears (still it feels good lol)
no because interupting the process is not precise- you dont know if you stop it exactly at the very end of pass 2 and before pass 3. leaving it run for 3 full passes means you have 3 full passes, no possible data blocks near the ends that were left intact. stopping and starting means that it isnt complete, and it doesnt meet the DoD specification.
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