---
tags: [disks, procedural]
created: Saturday, April 26, 2025
---

# Secure disk wipe

```sh
sudo shred -v -n 2 -z /dev/sda1
```

Overwrites the disk with random data multiple times (`-n 2`) and finishes with
zeros (`-z`).

The more overwrites you specify, the longer it takes. Three overwrites on a USB
flash disk can take like three hours so use advisedly.