## gowipe - securely delete files and directories (not for SSD)

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## Description

`gowipe` is a simple self contained tool to securely wipe files and
directories. By default it renames and overwrites files and
directories 30 times and uses the `secure` mode, which uses strong
random bytes for the overwriting process. Gowipe writes as much bytes
into a file as its original size.

You can tweak mode and round numbers. Other modes are `zero`, which
uses zeroes for overwriting (not recommended) or `encrypt` which
encrypts the data using AES and a strong random key. This is the most
secure but also to slowest mode.

Although you can use `gowipe` on SSD disks, it doesn't make much
sense. To wipe such a disk you have to resort to other means. But you
can savely use it on magnetic discs or usb drives.

Of course there are many other such tools available, this one is
insofar special as you can download a pre-compiled binary without any
library dependencies. This allows you to wipe files on systems, where
you cannot install a wiper via some package management (such as
appliance systems or vm's).

## Example

Overwrite the directory `vhs` recursively 50 times using strong
encryption and verbose output:

```shell
gowipe  -c 50 -E -r -v vhs
Wiped vhs/help.png (355011 bytes)
Wiped vhs/rec.Dockerfile (348 bytes)
Wiped vhs/rec.gif (3533338 bytes)
Wiped vhs/rec.tape (852 bytes)
Wiped vhs (4096 bytes)

   Dirs wiped: 1
  Files wiped: 5
Bytes deleted: 3889549
 Time elapsed: 426.286639ms
  Overwritten: 50 times
    Wipe mode: encrypt
 Recurse dirs: true
```


```
Usage: gowipe [-rcvz] <file|directory>...

Options:
-r --recursive    Delete <dir> recursively
-c --count <num>  Overwrite files <num> times
-m --mode <mode>  Use <mode> for overwriting (or use -E, -S, -M, -Z)
-n --nodelete     Do not delete files after overwriting
-N --norename     Do not rename the files
-v --verbose      Verbose output
-V --version      Show program version
-h --help         Show usage

Available modes:
zero      Overwrite with zeroes (-Z)
math      Overwrite with math random bytes (-M)
secure    Overwrite with secure random bytes (default) (-S)
encrypt   Overwrite with ChaCha2Poly1305 encryption (most secure) (-E)
```

## Getting help

Although I'm happy to hear from gowipe users in private email,
that's the best way for me to forget to do something.

In order to report a bug, unexpected behavior, feature requests
or to submit a patch, please open an issue on github:
https://github.com/TLINDEN/gowipe/issues.

## Copyright and license

This software is licensed under the GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE version 3.

## Authors

T.v.Dein <tom AT vondein DOT org>

## Project homepage

https://github.com/TLINDEN/gowipe