Just decided to throw this out here if anyone is interested in wiping free space on Linux. It wasn't meant to be a how to, so sorry if it isn't that 'deep'. I was going to put it in cafe, but didn't want it to disappear so easily.
Bcwipe is a proprietary file wiping program, but it can also wipe free space and file slacks. Since I could not find any easy information about doing that on Linux, this may be a good option if you are interested. It uses Peter Gutmann (automatically I think), DoD, or your own defined number of wipes.
1a. Download alien converted rpm to your desktop-
http://www.sendspace.com/file/eob9tj
http://www.gigasize.com/get.php/1255...pe1.64i386.deb
1b. Or download the latest rpm-
http://www.jetico.com/linux/BCWipe-1.6-4.i386.rpm
Code:
sudo apt-get install alien (if alien is not already installed)
cd ~/Desktop
sudo alien --to-deb -v BCWipe-1.6-4.i386.rpm
2. Unpackage and install.
Code:
cd /Desktop
sudo dpkg --install bcwipe_1.6-4_i386.deb
3. To wipe free space on root.
Code:
sudo bcwipe -F / (where -F stands for free space)
I believe this automatically uses Gutmann's method, and this may take a LONG time, so you might want to
define it to DoD or your own number by entering-
sudo bcwipe -F -md / (-md stands for DoD)
sudo bcwipe -F -m3 / (-m stands for mode (in this case 3 wipes))
The same rules works for /home or whatever partition you wish to wipe. As in wiping my 10 gig ext3 partition.
Code:
bcwipe -F -v -m1 /media/hda7/
A bit of advice. You may screw up, cancel your wipe, and notice all or a lot of your free space is taken up. Just delete the bcwipe folders that were created (using sudo).
Code:
cd /thedirectory
sudo rm -r bcwipe-wiping_free_space-tImFVa (or whatever name it has)
Before

After

That worked for me when I did this for the first time and Gutmann was taking to long. If you run into the same problem as Ziggy72, try DDM's solution.
http://www.jetico.com/ for more information or the original rpm. They also have an encryption program if you are interested (of course open source options are better
) They also have versions for Windows.
Also make sure you look at "man bcwipe" first and use at your own risk (in other words I know as little as possible about wiping and this program). This is just what worked for me.
Bookmarks