I want to actually delete files in linux, as opposed to just erasing the representation of a file, with the command rm, for example, actually deleting the file literally, and as a basic good security measure, to prevent any potential data recovery after file deletion.
I want to accomplish this with the basic tools that come with most linux systems ideally. The last time I researched the issue I was led to a tool called something simlar to rmshred which I guess was only in debian repo's.
Maybe some simple compound command would do the trick such as DD random data copied to the file, and then using rm, to faux delete the random data after the fact. And then I guess I can figure out how to alter the rm utility itself to preform this function automatically with some basic customization.
Edit:
I actually want to achieve multiple goals here.
My thinking is to use a compound command utilizing standard utilities that are in most debian/fedora/ect based linux distros.
Get the exact size of the file,
DD or perhaps copy random data or zeroes, of the same size as the file
in place of the exact file/s bits,
and then utilize rm, which just makes the image to the user disappear,
to remove the image of the now randomed, or zeroed former data,
then I want to customize the rm utility itself to perform this basic task,
of actually deleting the file, instead of just superficially doing so.
This is a very basic problem, shouldn't be too hard, I've just never taken the time to figure out how to do it.
