2023-11-25 14:44:46 +01:00
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## gowipe - securely delete files and directories (not for SSD)
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2025-01-18 11:35:12 +01:00
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[](https://github.com/tlinden/gowipe/actions)
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[](https://github.com/tlinden/gowipe/blob/master/LICENSE)
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[](https://goreportcard.com/report/github.com/tlinden/gowipe)
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[](https://github.com/TLINDEN/gowipe/releases/latest)
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2025-01-19 16:23:16 +01:00
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## Description
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`gowipe` is a simple self contained tool to securely wipe files and
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directories. By default it renames and overwrites files and
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directories 30 times and uses the `secure` mode, which uses strong
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random bytes for the overwriting process. Gowipe writes as much bytes
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into a file as its original size.
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You can tweak mode and round numbers. Other modes are `zero`, which
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uses zeroes for overwriting (not recommended) or `encrypt` which
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encrypts the data using AES and a strong random key. This is the most
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secure but also to slowest mode.
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Although you can use `gowipe` on SSD disks, it doesn't make much
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sense. To wipe such a disk you have to resort to other means. But you
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can savely use it on magnetic discs or usb drives.
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Of course there are many other such tools available, this one is
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insofar special as you can download a pre-compiled binary without any
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library dependencies. This allows you to wipe files on systems, where
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you cannot install a wiper via some package management (such as
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appliance systems or vm's).
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## Example
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Overwrite the directory `vhs` recursively 50 times using strong
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encryption and verbose output:
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```shell
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gowipe -c 50 -E -r -v vhs
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Wiped vhs/help.png (355011 bytes)
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Wiped vhs/rec.Dockerfile (348 bytes)
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Wiped vhs/rec.gif (3533338 bytes)
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Wiped vhs/rec.tape (852 bytes)
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Wiped vhs (4096 bytes)
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Dirs wiped: 1
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Files wiped: 5
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Bytes deleted: 3889549
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Time elapsed: 426.286639ms
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Overwritten: 50 times
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Wipe mode: encrypt
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Recurse dirs: true
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```
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2025-01-19 16:27:03 +01:00
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## Usage
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2025-01-18 11:35:12 +01:00
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2023-11-25 14:44:46 +01:00
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```
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Usage: gowipe [-rcvz] <file|directory>...
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Options:
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-r --recursive Delete <dir> recursively
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-c --count <num> Overwrite files <num> times
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-m --mode <mode> Use <mode> for overwriting (or use -E, -S, -M, -Z)
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-n --nodelete Do not delete files after overwriting
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-N --norename Do not rename the files
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-v --verbose Verbose output
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-V --version Show program version
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-h --help Show usage
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Available modes:
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zero Overwrite with zeroes (-Z)
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math Overwrite with math random bytes (-M)
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secure Overwrite with secure random bytes (default) (-S)
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encrypt Overwrite with ChaCha2Poly1305 encryption (most secure) (-E)
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```
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## Getting help
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2023-11-25 14:53:07 +01:00
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Although I'm happy to hear from gowipe users in private email,
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2023-11-25 14:44:46 +01:00
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that's the best way for me to forget to do something.
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In order to report a bug, unexpected behavior, feature requests
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or to submit a patch, please open an issue on github:
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https://github.com/TLINDEN/gowipe/issues.
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## Copyright and license
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This software is licensed under the GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE version 3.
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## Authors
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T.v.Dein <tom AT vondein DOT org>
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## Project homepage
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https://github.com/TLINDEN/gowipe
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