How to : Delete files securely using shred from Nemo

The Linux command line tool shred is a fantastic way to securely remove files. It can be used from the command line e.g.

$ shred --force --remove --verbose --zero examplefile3

shred: examplefile3: removing

shred: examplefile3: renamed to 000000000000

shred: 000000000000: renamed to 00000000000

shred: 00000000000: renamed to 0000000000

shred: 0000000000: renamed to 000000000

shred: 000000000: renamed to 00000000

shred: 00000000: renamed to 0000000

shred: 0000000: renamed to 000000

shred: 000000: renamed to 00000

shred: 00000: renamed to 0000

shred: 0000: renamed to 000

shred: 000: renamed to 00

shred: 00: renamed to 0

shred: examplefile3: removed

Where

• --force : change permissions to allow writing if necessary
• --remove : truncate and remove file after overwriting
• --verbose : show progress
• --zero : add a final overwrite with zeros to hide shredding

The default is to overwrite the file 3 times but you can override this with –iterations=N, setting N to be the number of iterations.

Its useful to be able to quickly remove files securely using the File manager for Cinnamon Nemo. First its useful to review the Nemo Actions sample file :

$ vim /usr/share/nemo/actions/sample.nemo_action

Define the settings you require e.g.

$ cat /usr/share/nemo/actions/shred.nemo_action

[Nemo Action]

Name=Shred file

Comment=securely delete a file

Exec=/usr/bin/shred --force --remove --verbose --zero %F

Icon-Name=gtk-execute

Selection=S

Extensions=any;

Quote=double

• Start nemo, right click on file and select 'Shred file'
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Note – Based on feedback I added 'Quote=double' which will delete files with spaces.