THC-SecureDelete is a top-rated toolkit for completely deleting sensitive data with secure measures.
The program comes with all the tools you need, including the source codes. Plus, it includes a Linux LKM for secure file deletion, and there are small bug fixes across the application.
The command line options are as follows: srm [-d] [-f] [-l] [-l] [-v] [-z] file [file] [another file] [etc.], sfill [-i] [-I] [-f] [-l] [-l] [-v] [-z] target-directory, sswap [-f] [-l] [-l] [-v] [-z] /dev/of_swap_filesystem, and smem [-f] [-l] [-l] [-v]. The -s options are depricated now and will be ignored.
The options explain varying features and how to use them. For instance, the -d option is for not deleting the dot special files "." and ".." on the command line (only srm). Additionally, the -i option is for wiping only free inode space, not free disk space on the filesystem (only sfill). Notably, -f denotes fast writes without O_SYNC and sync() between writes, making it much faster but less secure.
Furthermore, the -l option lessens the security where only one random pass with 0xff is written. And the -l option with a second time as a parameter switches into the insecurest mode, overwriting the file only once with 0xff. The -v option puts the verbose mode on, while the last wipe mode writes zeros instead of random data.
THC-SecureDelete works across different systems, including Unix and MSDOS, and allows you to delete files with wildcards. However, for Unix, you need write permissions while for MSDOS, it may be hidden, system, readonly, etc.
If you use a GNU-compatible Linux, the patch rm.diff included in the package allows you to put the features from srm into your normal rm. Also, note that you need at least one -s switch to activate (1 overwrite), and -sss is needed for full security.
Finally, for the Linux kernel module, all you have to do is "insmod sdel-mod" to load the module. After that, all files that any program deletes get wiped once before the space is marked as free. With all these outstanding features, you'll undoubtedly appreciate how THC-SecureDelete keeps your sensitive files and information secure.
Version 3.1: N/A