rm doesn't actually delete - data remains recoverable. SecureShred overwrites data multiple times for true deletion.
The Problem: rm is not secure
- Files can be recovered with forensic tools
- Simply deletes file pointers, not data
- Sensitive data remains on disk
- Non-compliant with data protection regulations
The Solution: Military-grade data destruction
- Multiple overwrite passes
- DoD 5220.22-M standard
- Gutmann method (35 passes)
- Cannot be recovered
- Compliance-ready
curl -sSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/strabo231/secureshred/main/install.sh | bash# Shred single file
secureshred confidential.pdf
# Shred with Gutmann method
secureshred -m gutmann secret.txt
# Shred entire directory
secureshred -r old-project/
# Custom passes
secureshred -p 10 document.docxsecureshred <file> Shred with DoD method (default)
secureshred -p <n> <file> Custom number of passes
secureshred -m <method> <file> Specific method (dod, gutmann, random)
secureshred -r <dir> Recursive directory shred
secureshred --log View shred history
🔥 DoD 5220.22-M - Government standard (3 passes)
💥 Gutmann method - Maximum security (35 passes)
🗂️ Recursive - Delete entire directories
📊 Logging - Audit trail of operations
🔐 Compliance - Meet data protection standards
3 passes - Fast and effective
- Pass 1: Write zeros (0x00)
- Pass 2: Write ones (0xFF)
- Pass 3: Write random data
Government standard for unclassified data.
35 passes - Maximum security
- Multiple patterns to defeat all known recovery
- Slow but maximally thorough
- For highly sensitive data
N passes - Your choice
- Overwrite with random data N times
- Balance between speed and security
- Good for SSDs
Shred single file:
secureshred document.pdf⚠️ WARNING: This will PERMANENTLY delete file(s)
Files to shred:
document.pdf (2.3MB)
Type 'SHRED' to confirm: SHRED
✓ Shredded: document.pdf (DoD 5220.22-M, 3 passes)
Shred with Gutmann:
secureshred -m gutmann top-secret.txtShred directory:
secureshred -r old-client-data/Custom passes:
secureshred -p 7 sensitive.xlsxView log:
secureshred --log2024-12-15 10:23:45 | DoD | 3 | document.pdf
2024-12-15 10:24:12 | Gutmann | 35 | top-secret.txt
2024-12-15 10:25:33 | Random | 7 | sensitive.xlsx
Before Selling Devices
secureshred -r ~/Documents
secureshred -r ~/DownloadsSensitive Documents
secureshred -m gutmann classified.pdfClient Data Cleanup
secureshred -r /path/to/client-project/Compliance
# GDPR, HIPAA, SOX compliant deletion
secureshred -m dod customer-data.csv
For SSDs: Encryption + TRIM is often better than shredding alone.
| Method | Passes | Speed | Security | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DoD | 3 | Fast | High | General use |
| Random | Custom | Medium | Medium-High | Flexible |
| Gutmann | 35 | Slow | Maximum | Classified data |
SecureShred meets requirements for:
- DoD 5220.22-M (unclassified)
- NIST 800-88
- GDPR (Article 17)
- HIPAA
- SOX
- PCI-DSS
- Bash 4.0+
- Standard Unix tools (shred, dd)
SecureShred is dual-licensed:
Free for individuals, open source projects, and non-commercial use. See LICENSE-GPL3 for details.
Required for commercial use, proprietary software, and organizations that cannot comply with GPL v3.
Starting at $49/year per user
Premium features include:
- DoD 5220.22-M compliance certification
- Audit trail and logging
- Scheduled shredding
- Network drive support
- Centralized management
- Priority support
- Legal indemnification
- Compliance reporting
👉 Learn more about commercial licensing
Why dual license?
- Secure file deletion is critical for enterprises
- DoD 5220.22-M compliance required for government/defense
- GDPR, HIPAA, SOX require certified data destruction
- Companies need legal protection and audit trails
Questions about licensing? Contact: [YOUR_EMAIL]
Sean - @strabo231
Delete securely. Stay compliant. Sleep well. 🔥