cypherpunk-cheats/secure-deletion.cheat

% secure-deletion, shred, wipe, forensics, data-destruction

# ============================================================================
# WHY SECURE DELETION MATTERS
# ============================================================================

# Regular delete doesn't actually remove data
# - File system marks space as "available"
# - Data remains on disk until overwritten
# - Easily recoverable with forensic tools

# Secure deletion overwrites data multiple times
# Modern drives: 1-3 passes usually sufficient
# Old magnetic drives: 7-35 passes (DoD standard)

# ============================================================================
# SHRED - Secure File Deletion
# ============================================================================

# Install shred (usually pre-installed)
sudo apt install coreutils

# Basic secure delete (default 3 passes)
shred <file>
$ file: echo -e \"sensitive.txt\\nsecret.pdf\"

# Delete and remove file
shred -u <file>
$ file: echo \"document.txt\"

# Verbose output (show progress)
shred -v <file>
$ file: echo \"data.csv\"

# Specify number of passes
shred -n <passes> <file>
$ passes: echo -e \"1\\n3\\n7\\n35\"
$ file: echo \"secret.docx\"

# Full secure delete with removal
shred -vfz -n 5 <file>
$ file: echo -e \"passwords.txt\\nkeys.pem\"

# shred options explained:
# -v = verbose (show progress)
# -f = force (change permissions if needed)
# -z = final pass with zeros (hide shredding)
# -n = number of overwrite passes
# -u = remove file after shredding

# Shred multiple files
shred -vfz -n 3 file1.txt file2.pdf file3.docx

# Shred all files in directory
find /path/to/dir -type f -exec shred -vfz -n 3 {} \\;

# ============================================================================
# SECURE-DELETE PACKAGE (Multiple Tools)
# ============================================================================

# Install secure-delete suite
sudo apt install secure-delete

# srm - Secure rm (file deletion)
srm <file>
$ file: echo -e \"sensitive.doc\\nsecret_key.pem\"

# srm with fast mode (1 pass)
srm -f <file>
$ file: echo \"temp_data.txt\"

# srm recursive (directory)
srm -r <directory>
$ directory: echo -e \"~/old_projects\\n/tmp/sensitive\"

# srm with DoD 5220.22-M standard (7 passes)
srm -v <file>
$ file: echo \"classified.pdf\"

# sfill - Secure free space wipe
# WARNING: Takes long time, writes until disk full
sfill -v <directory>
$ directory: echo -e \"/home/user\\n/tmp\"

# sfill fast mode (only free space, not inodes)
sfill -f <directory>
$ directory: echo \"/home/user\"

# sswap - Secure swap wipe
# Check swap partitions first
swapon --show

# Wipe swap (disable swap first)
sudo swapoff -a
sudo sswap /dev/sdXY
sudo swapon -a

# smem - Secure memory wipe (clear RAM)
# Fills memory with random data then frees it
smem

# ============================================================================
# WIPE - Advanced Secure Deletion
# ============================================================================

# Install wipe
sudo apt install wipe

# Basic wipe (default 34 passes - Gutmann method)
wipe <file>
$ file: echo \"confidential.txt\"

# Quick wipe (4 passes)
wipe -q <file>
$ file: echo \"temp.dat\"

# Wipe directory recursively
wipe -r <directory>
$ directory: echo -e \"~/old_work\\n/tmp/cache\"

# Force wipe (no confirmation)
wipe -f <file>
$ file: echo \"delete_me.pdf\"

# Wipe with custom passes
wipe -Q <passes> <file>
$ passes: echo -e \"1\\n7\\n35\"
$ file: echo \"data.xlsx\"

# Wipe free space on partition
wipe -F /dev/sdX

# ============================================================================
# DD - Low-Level Disk Wiping
# ============================================================================

# DANGER: dd is destructive - verify device first!
# Check device name
lsblk
fdisk -l

# Wipe entire disk with zeros
sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdX bs=1M status=progress

# Wipe with random data (more secure)
sudo dd if=/dev/urandom of=/dev/sdX bs=1M status=progress

# Wipe specific number of blocks
sudo dd if=/dev/urandom of=/dev/sdX bs=1M count=1000 status=progress

# Wipe only first 10MB (destroy partition table)
sudo dd if=/dev/urandom of=/dev/sdX bs=1M count=10

# ============================================================================
# SCRUB - RAID-Aware Secure Deletion
# ============================================================================

# Install scrub
sudo apt install scrub

# Scrub file (patterns + verification)
scrub -p nnsa <file>
$ file: echo \"sensitive_data.bin\"

# Scrub patterns available:
# nnsa    - NNSA Policy Letter NAP-14.1-C (3 passes)
# dod     - DoD 5220.22-M (7 passes)
# bsi     - German BSI (9 passes)
# gutmann - Gutmann method (35 passes)
# schneier - Bruce Schneier algorithm (7 passes)
# pfitzner7 - Roy Pfitzner 7-pass method

# Scrub disk
sudo scrub -p dod /dev/sdX

# Scrub with specific pattern
sudo scrub -p gutmann /dev/sdX

# Scrub free space
scrub -X /path/to/mount

# ============================================================================
# CRYPTSETUP - Cryptographic Erase
# ============================================================================

# Fastest method for encrypted drives
# Destroy encryption header = data unrecoverable

# Check if device is LUKS encrypted
sudo cryptsetup luksDump /dev/sdX

# Erase LUKS header (instant crypto-shredding)
sudo cryptsetup luksErase /dev/sdX

# Backup header before erase (optional)
sudo cryptsetup luksHeaderBackup /dev/sdX --header-backup-file header.img

# ============================================================================
# TRIM/DISCARD (SSD Optimization)
# ============================================================================

# SSDs handle deletion differently (TRIM)
# Secure deletion harder on SSDs due to wear leveling

# Check if TRIM supported
sudo hdparm -I /dev/sdX | grep TRIM

# Manual TRIM on mounted partition
sudo fstrim -v /

# Enable automatic TRIM (systemd)
sudo systemctl enable fstrim.timer
sudo systemctl start fstrim.timer

# Force TRIM entire device
sudo blkdiscard /dev/sdX

# Secure erase SSD (ATA Secure Erase)
# Check if supported
sudo hdparm -I /dev/sdX | grep -i erase

# Set security password
sudo hdparm --user-master u --security-set-pass password /dev/sdX

# Execute secure erase
sudo hdparm --user-master u --security-erase password /dev/sdX

# ============================================================================
# NVME SECURE ERASE
# ============================================================================

# Check NVMe device
sudo nvme list

# Format with secure erase
sudo nvme format /dev/nvme0n1 -s 1

# Cryptographic erase (if supported)
sudo nvme format /dev/nvme0n1 -s 2

# ============================================================================
# SECURE DELETION BY FILE SYSTEM
# ============================================================================

# EXT4 secure deletion flag
# Mark file for secure deletion
chattr +s <file>
$ file: echo \"secure_me.txt\"

# Check attributes
lsattr <file>
$ file: echo \"secure_me.txt\"

# Remove secure deletion flag
chattr -s <file>
$ file: echo \"secure_me.txt\"

# BTRFS
# No built-in secure deletion
# Use shred/scrub before deletion

# ZFS
# Supports encryption at dataset level
# Destroy dataset = crypto-shred

# ============================================================================
# MEMORY (RAM) WIPING
# ============================================================================

# Clear page cache
sync
echo 3 | sudo tee /proc/sys/vm/drop_caches

# Clear swap
sudo swapoff -a
sudo swapon -a

# Overwrite freed memory (smem from secure-delete)
smem

# Cold boot attack mitigation
# Enable RAM encryption in BIOS/UEFI if available

# ============================================================================
# BROWSER CACHE & HISTORY DELETION
# ============================================================================

# Firefox secure deletion
# Clear all history: CTRL+SHIFT+DEL → Everything

# Manually wipe Firefox cache
rm -rf ~/.cache/mozilla/firefox/*
rm -rf ~/.mozilla/firefox/*/cache2/*

# Shred Firefox history database
cd ~/.mozilla/firefox/*.default-release/
shred -vfz -n 3 places.sqlite

# Chrome/Chromium secure deletion
rm -rf ~/.cache/google-chrome/*
rm -rf ~/.config/google-chrome/Default/Cache/*

# ============================================================================
# TEMPORARY FILES & LOGS
# ============================================================================

# Find and shred temporary files
find /tmp -type f -exec shred -vfz -n 3 {} \\;

# Shred old logs
sudo find /var/log -type f -mtime +30 -exec shred -vfz -n 1 {} \\;

# Clear systemd journal
sudo journalctl --vacuum-time=1d

# Clear bash history
shred -vfz -n 3 ~/.bash_history
history -c

# Disable bash history for session
unset HISTFILE

# ============================================================================
# SECURE DELETION OF SPECIFIC FILE TYPES
# ============================================================================

# Shred all PDFs in directory
find ~/Documents -name "*.pdf" -exec shred -vfz -n 3 {} \\;

# Shred all images
find ~/Pictures -type f \\( -name "*.jpg" -o -name "*.png" \\) -exec shred -vfz -n 3 {} \\;

# Shred SSH keys
shred -vfz -n 7 ~/.ssh/id_rsa

# Shred GPG keys
shred -vfz -n 7 ~/.gnupg/secring.gpg

# ============================================================================
# FREE SPACE WIPING
# ============================================================================

# Create large file with random data to fill free space
cat /dev/urandom > /home/deleteme.dat
# Wait until disk full, then:
rm /home/deleteme.dat

# Using dd
dd if=/dev/urandom of=/home/wipefile bs=1M
rm /home/wipefile

# Using sfill (secure-delete package)
sfill -v /home/

# BleachBit free space wipe (GUI)
bleachbit --clean system.free_disk_space

# ============================================================================
# SECURE DELETION SCRIPTS
# ============================================================================

# Secure delete script (shred wrapper)
#!/bin/bash
# secure_delete.sh
for file in "$@"; do
    if [ -f "$file" ]; then
        shred -vfz -n 3 "$file"
        echo "Securely deleted: $file"
    else
        echo "Not a file: $file"
    fi
done

# Make executable
chmod +x secure_delete.sh

# Use it
./secure_delete.sh file1.txt file2.pdf file3.docx

# ============================================================================
# FULL DISK DESTRUCTION WORKFLOW
# ============================================================================

# Before selling/disposing of drive:
# 1. Backup important data
# 2. Boot from live USB (Tails, Ubuntu Live)
# 3. Identify target drive (lsblk)
# 4. Wipe entire drive
sudo shred -vfz -n 1 /dev/sdX

# Or for faster wipe (single pass random)
sudo dd if=/dev/urandom of=/dev/sdX bs=1M status=progress

# 5. Verify (should show random data)
sudo dd if=/dev/sdX bs=1M count=10 | hexdump -C

# 6. (Optional) Create new partition table
sudo fdisk /dev/sdX
# g (create GPT table), w (write)

# ============================================================================
# ANDROID/MOBILE SECURE DELETION
# ============================================================================

# Android encryption
# Settings → Security → Encrypt phone

# Factory reset (after encryption)
# Settings → System → Reset → Factory reset

# iOS secure deletion
# Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings

# Physical destruction (if needed)
# - Drill through memory chips
# - Professional shredding service

# ============================================================================
# CLOUD STORAGE DELETION
# ============================================================================

# Most cloud services don't truly delete
# Files remain in backups/snapshots

# Best practices:
# 1. Encrypt before uploading (see age.cheat, gpg.cheat)
# 2. Delete encryption keys when removing files
# 3. Don't trust cloud provider deletion

# Google Drive
# Delete → Empty trash → Wait 30 days

# Dropbox
# Delete → Permanently delete

# ============================================================================
# FORENSIC VERIFICATION
# ============================================================================

# Test if data is recoverable (after secure deletion)
# Use forensic tools to attempt recovery

# PhotoRec (file recovery tool)
sudo apt install testdisk
photorec /dev/sdX

# Foremost (file carving)
sudo apt install foremost
foremost -t all -i /dev/sdX -o /output/dir

# If recovery succeeds, your deletion wasn't secure enough!

# ============================================================================
# DBAN (DARIK'S BOOT AND NUKE)
# ============================================================================

# Bootable ISO for complete disk wiping
# Download: https://dban.org/

# Create bootable USB
sudo dd if=dban.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=1M status=progress

# Boot from USB, select drive, start wipe
# Recommended method: DoD Short (3 passes)

# ============================================================================
# BEST PRACTICES
# ============================================================================

# Preventive measures (better than deletion)
# - Encrypt all drives (see veracrypt.cheat)
# - Use encrypted file systems
# - Don't store sensitive data unnecessarily
# - Use RAM disks for temporary sensitive work

# Deletion strategy by threat level
# Low (personal files): shred -n 1
# Medium (sensitive docs): shred -n 3
# High (classified): shred -n 7
# Maximum (life/death): crypto-shred + physical destruction

# SSD considerations
# - Secure deletion less effective on SSDs
# - TRIM helps but not guaranteed
# - Best: Full disk encryption + crypto-shred
# - Or: Physical destruction

# ============================================================================
# COMMON MISTAKES
# ============================================================================

# ❌ Using "rm -rf" and thinking it's secure
# ✅ Use shred/srm/wipe instead

# ❌ Forgetting about backups
# ✅ Securely delete all backup copies

# ❌ Not wiping free space
# ✅ Use sfill after deleting sensitive files

# ❌ Deleting files without wiping metadata
# ✅ Check file system journals/logs

# ❌ Trusting cloud provider deletion
# ✅ Encrypt before upload, delete keys

# ❌ Selling drive without wiping
# ✅ Full wipe + verification before disposal

# ============================================================================
# EMERGENCY DELETION
# ============================================================================

# Quick emergency wipe (if time limited)
# Wipe most sensitive files first, free space last

# Priority deletion order:
# 1. SSH/GPG keys (~/.ssh, ~/.gnupg)
# 2. Browser history/cache
# 3. Documents folder
# 4. Email (~/Maildir, ~/.thunderbird)
# 5. Home directory
# 6. Swap partition
# 7. Free space

# One-liner emergency wipe (home directory)
find ~/ -type f -exec shred -n 1 -u {} \\; 2>/dev/null

# ============================================================================
# LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS
# ============================================================================

# Obstruction of justice concerns
# Secure deletion may be illegal in some contexts
# - During active investigation
# - Under subpoena/warrant
# - Corporate document retention policies

# Know your jurisdiction's laws
# Consult lawyer if unsure

# Plausible deniability
# Hidden volumes (VeraCrypt)
# Steganography