Sterilizing free space

[Sy Ali]

On 12/28/05, Neil Watson <tlug-neil-8agRmHhQ+n2CxnSzwYWP7Q at public.gmane.org> wrote:
> Why not fill the drive with a single file and then securely erase it?
>
> Keep in mind that there is debate as to whether or not you can ever
> securely erase information from a journaled file system.

Aah yes, a secure file wipe is an option.  I'll check out bcwipe.  I
hope that works.  Certainly filling an entire unused partition with
one single file would do it.

Why would I be forced to create that file?  Why not magically whip up
a file of the right size?  I had a nice DOS program which could do
that, called "empty" which was rediculously fast..  is there a
unixlike way of doing this?

I'm aware of the journalized filesystem issue with secure file wiping,
but that's generally for deleting odd files in a live filesystem which
has lots of free space.  I'd be willing to shut things down to do a
proper wipe.

Joe:
You're right about mounting in ext2.  That's a good idea for a system
which has data on it already.

I don't/won't ever use Reiser.  Too many good people have had too many
bad experiences.  Plus I've put ext2/3 through hell and it's come out
smoking but unburnt.
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